About 60 members of the Nigerian House of Representatives are seeking amendments to the 1999 Constitution to transition from the current presidential system to the parliamentary system of government. Led by a lawmaker representing Lagos State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wale Raji, the lawmakers cited the need to reduce the cost of government and promote robust policy debates as reasons for the proposed shift.
The bill, titled “The Bills proposing constitutional alterations for a transition to parliamentary system of government,” was sponsored by the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, and 59 others. During the plenary session in Abuja, the bill was read for the first time.
The lawmakers, drawn from different party affiliations, emphasized the importance of adopting a parliamentary system at the federal, state, and local government levels. They believe that a return to the parliamentary system would enhance governance accountability, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness.
The parliamentary system proposed by the lawmakers envisions replacing the President and Vice President with a Prime Minister and a Cabinet chosen from the legislature. Legislative elections would shift the process of electing governors and chairpersons of local governments from general elections to voting within their respective legislative bodies.
The sponsors of the bill intend to spark a national conversation about the future of Nigeria’s governance system, foster robust public debates, and encourage stakeholder consultations and expert analyses. They hope to raise awareness and contribute to constructive dialogue on the potential implications of the proposed constitutional alterations.
While acknowledging that the road to achieving their goal is fairly long, the lawmakers expressed hope of realizing their dream by a date not later than 2031.
