Reps Consider Bill Seeking To Change Presidential To Parliamentary System of Government

A bill seeking to return Nigeria’s system of government to the first republican parliamentary system is now before the House of Representatives.

The bill was sponsored by 60 members of the House, led by the Honorable Wale Raji, and scaled the first reading during the Wednesday plenary of the House in Abuja.

Raji, speaking on the bill during the session, said it seeks to scrap the current presidential system and replace it with a parliamentary system of government adopted by Nigeria’s founding fathers.

Instead of the president, the country under the parliamentary system would have a prime minister who would run the government and a ceremonial president.

Raji also explained that the prime minister would choose his cabinet from members of parliament.

According to him, the parliamentary system would make governance in Nigeria affordable, responsive, and less expensive, and encourage robust debates on issues.

He said the road to achieving the objective would be long, but the sponsors are reaching 2031, the end of the present presidential system.

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 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.

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“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 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 the 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.”