- Seek three bills to amend 1999 Constitution
- Say presidential system of government expensive, not working
- Senate constitutes committee to amend constitution
Three bills to amend the 1999 Constitution to transition from a presidential system of government to a parliamentary system of government have passed the First Reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.
The bills, sponsored by 60 lawmakers across party lines, are expected to be gazetted for the Second Reading and will be referred to the Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, for further legislative action.
Led by a lawmaker representing Lagos State under the All Progressives Congress, Wale Raji, the lawmakers identified the need for reducing the cost of government, and robust policy debates among others as some of the reasons for demanding a return to the parliamentary system.
Titled, ‘The Bills proposing constitutional alterations for a transition to parliamentary system of government,’ the bill was sponsored by the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, and 59 others and read for the first time on the floor of the House during Wednesday’s plenary session in Abuja.
The lawmakers, drawn from different party affiliations, anchored their positions on the need to adopt a parliamentary system at the Federal, State and Local Government levels.
Addressing a press conference at the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday, the spokesman for the sponsors and member representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Constituency, Sokoto State, Abdulssamad Dasuki said that when passed, it would significantly impact the national political landscape.
He said, “Our founders in their wisdom and in a political atmosphere devoid of compulsion, and having considered the interests of their native peoples and their desire to live together in a country where truth and justice reign, where no man is oppressed, and where all citizens live in peace and plenty, adopted the parliamentary system of government.
“That was the governance system of the First Republic, a period when legislative and executive powers were exercised by the representatives of the people in parliament and in the executive, and by the nature of the system; these representatives were accountable to the people.
“For six years while it was in operation, the system worked for the country.”
He added, “The collapse of the First Republic and the long stretch of military rule culminated in the adoption of a new system of government, theoretically fashioned after the presidential system of the United States but in practice, imbibed the uttermost attributes of military rule.
“No wonder the Nigerian President appears to be one of the most powerful presidents in the world.
“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 of attaining its full potential.
“Among these imperfections are the high cost of governance, leaving fewer resources for crucial areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, and consequently hindering the nation’s development progress, and the excessive powers vested in the members of executive, who are appointees and not directly accountable to the people.
“The bills presented today (Wednesday) seek a return to the system of government adopted by our founders, which made governance accountable, responsible and responsive, and ultimately less expensive.”
Following the presentation of the bills, the lawmakers said they intend to “ignite, provoke a national conversation about the future of the Nigerian governance system, ensure robust public debates, stakeholder consultations, expert analyses, and a thorough and informed decision-making process and raise awareness about this significant development and encourage constructive dialogue on the potential implications of these proposed constitutional alterations.”
While noting that the future of Nigeria’s governance rests on informed public engagement and responsive and responsible leadership, the sponsors of the bill noted that under the parliamentary system, the President will be replaced with a Prime Minister to serve as the Head of Government and establishing the office of the President as a ceremonial leader, stressing that “these elective offices are to be chosen from the elected members of the legislature.”
Dasuki added that under legislative election, there would be a shift “in the process of electing governors and Chairmen of Local Governments from general election to voting within their respective legislative bodies.”
The parliamentary system, according to Dasuki, will potentially reduce “bureaucratic hurdles and foster closer collaboration between the executive and legislative branches.
“Our conviction is that a streamlined executive branch, which replaces the President and Vice President with a Prime Minister and Cabinet chosen from the legislature, could lead to a smaller central government, reducing salaries and administrative expenses.
“We also hold strongly that shifting the election of Governors and Local Government Chairmen from general election to votes within their respective legislative bodies could save billions spent on state and nationwide campaigns.
“Because ministers, commissioners (at the state level) and supervisors (at the local government level) emerge from parliament, there is greater coordination between the executive and the legislature, just as there will be increased legislative scrutiny, which would make cabinet members responsive to the yearnings of the people and more accountable.”
Conclusively, the lawmakers said as proponents of the constitutional alteration, they place national interest above any other consideration.
“Our hope is that the national conversation that would be ignited by these bills would lead to a system of government that works and our dear nation would attain her full potential,” they stated.
Leader of the sponsors of the bill and the lawmaker representing Epe Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Wale Raji, said though the road to the actualisation of the bid is a fairly long one, he noted that they hope to achieve their dream at a date not later than 2031.
Senate constitutes committee to amend constitution
Meanwhile, the Senate on Wednesday constituted a 45-member committee to review and amend Nigeria’s Constitution.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the composition of the committee during the plenary.
He said the committee will be chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, while the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, will be the deputy chairman.
Akpabio explained that the 1999 constitution needs a review because it contains many issues that need to be “put right.”
He also highlighted the introduction of Artificial Intelligence as a major factor for the need to amend the constitution.
“There is a need for us to touch some aspects of the constitution to bring them in line with current realities particularly with the era of artificial intelligence and some of the things we have observed that need to be put right,” Akpabio said.
The senate president also directed that all speakers of the State House of Assemblies should be invited to the National Assembly for interaction as part of the constitution amendment process.
“The Deputy Senate President, you also invite speakers of all state houses of assemblies for interaction with the Senate President before we go into the major issues of presenting the different memos,” he said.
Akpabio explained that members of the amendment committee were selected from all states and geo-political zones. He said all political parties with representation in the Senate also have members in the committee.
“It is all political parties and all senatorial districts; all zones are taken care of.
“We are taking one senator per state because we are talking about the constitution amendment. One senator per state and then we are also taking one senator representing each geo-political zone.
“So, in case you noticed two senators from one state that would mean that one of them represents the zone, while there’s one senator from that zone representing that state.”
The senate president noted that the constitution amendment committee will be inaugurated next Tuesday.
“The committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday so that they can start functioning immediately.
“All the motions and resolutions pertaining to constitution amendment that have been brought to the Senate since last year will now be channelled straight to that committee,” he said.
Aside from Messrs Barau and Bamidele, other members of the constitution amendment committee are:
Deputy Senate Leader, Oyelola Ashiru; Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume; Deputy Whip, Nwebonyi Onyeka; Minority Leader, Abba Moro; Minority Whip, Osita Ngwu; Deputy Minority Leader, Oyewunmi Olalere; Minority Whip Sani Hangar.
Others are: Enyinnaya Abaribe; Binus Dauda Yaroe; Bassey Etim Akpan; Ifeanyi Ubah; Abdul Ningi; Seriake Dickson; Agom Jarigbe; Ned Nwoko; Adams Oshiomole; Danjuma Goje; Osita Izunaso; Abdulhamid Ahmed; Khalid Mustapha; Sani Rufai; Mutari Dandutse; Yahaya Abdullahi; Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Adebule Oluranti; Ugodiya Akwashiki; Sani Musa; Adeola Olamilekan; Adeniyi Ayodele; Abdulfatai Buhari; Simon Lalong; Aliyu Wamako; Shuaibu Lau; Ahmad Lawan; Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u; Ireti Kingigbe; Ipalibo Banigo.
Others on zonal representation are: Adamu Aliero to represent (North West); Orji Uzor Kalu to represent (SouthEast); Francis Fadahunsi to represent (South West); Bomai Mohammed to represent (North East); Barinada Mpigi (South South) and Umar Sadiq Sulaiman (North Central).
