Parliamentary system of govt in Nigeria; 60 lawmakers back bill

The House of Representatives has passed the first reading of a bill seeking to transform the presidential system of government into a parliamentary system.

 The bill was titled; ” The Bills Proposing Constitutional Alterations for a Transition to Parliamentary System of Government” was sponsored by sixty lawmakers and read for the first time during Wednesday’s plenary in Abuja.

Briefing newsmen after plenary, the spokesperson of the sixty-member group,  Hon Abdussamad Dasuki (Sokoto, PDP) said that the proposed alterations, when passed, would significantly impact the national political landscape.

According to him, over the years, the imperfections of the Presidential System of Government have become glaring to all, despite several alterations to the constitution to address the shortcomings of a system that has denied the nation the opportunity to attain its full potential.

He said among these imperfections are the high cost of governance, leaving fewer resources for crucial areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, consequently hindering the nation’s development progress, and the excessive powers vested in the members of the executive, who are appointees and not directly accountable to the people.

He further noted that the bills presented seek a return to the system of government adopted by our founders, which made governance accountable, responsible, responsive, and ultimately less expensive.

Dasuki explained that with the presentation of these bills, the House hopes to Ignite, and provoke a national conversation about the future of the Nigerian governance system,  to ensure robust public debates, stakeholder consultations, expert analyses, and a thorough and informed decision-making process,  to raise awareness about the significant development and encourage constructive dialogue on the potential implications of these proposed constitutional alterations.

“Today, we stand on the cusp of history, as lawmakers across party affiliations and regional backgrounds come together to present bills proposing Constitutional Alterations that seek a transition to a Parliamentary System of Government.

“These bills, seeking to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, advocate a transition from the current presidential system to a parliamentary system at all levels – federal, state, and local government.