In a significant development, a group of 60 lawmakers, collectively known as the Parliamentary Group, has launched a movement to terminate the existing presidential system and revert to the parliamentary model once employed during the first republic.
The Parliamentary Group on Tuesday, introduced a constitution alteration bill during a session at the House of Representatives, paving the way for a transition to the parliamentary system by 2031.
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda and other members presented three constitution alteration bills during the plenary.
The Lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction with the costly presidential system and the formidable powers vested in the president.
The spokesperson for the group, Abdulsamad Dasuki, during a press briefing at the House Press Center, elucidated the key points of the bills.
Dasuki remarked, “No wonder the Nigerian President appears to be one of the most powerful Presidents in the world.”
While highlighting the imperfections of the Presidential System of Government, he emphasized the high cost of governance and the excessive powers held by executive members who lack direct accountability to the people.
Confident in their pursuit, the lawmakers set a targeted timeline of 2031 for the constitutional amendment to facilitate the transition. Mr. Dasuki underscored the group’s aim to ignite a conversation about the inefficiencies of the current parliamentary system.
“The bills presented today seek a return to the system of government adopted by our founders, which made governance accountable, responsible, and responsive, and ultimately less expensive,” he asserted.
