By James Moses (9News Nigeria -Jos)
Sixty members of the House of Representatives have sponsored three bills proposing alterations to the Nigerian Constitution (1999) (as amended) to transition from the current presidential system to parliamentar system of government by 2031.
The three bills were introduced on the floor of the House on Wednesday by the Clerk of the House for first reading and sponsored by the House majority leader, Kingsley Chinda and 59 other members.
The bills are Consttitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (Alteration) Bill, 2004 (HB. 1116) and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (HB 1117).
Briefing newsmen after the plenary, the lawmakers said they came together across party affiliations and regional backgrounds to present the bills proposing Constitutional alterations to pave the way for the transition of the system of government.
Abdulsamad Dasuki, who spoke on behalf of the sponsors, said the proposed alterations, when passed, would significantly impact the national political landscape.
“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 of attaining its full potentials.
“Among these imperfections are the high cost of governance, leaving fewer resources for crucial areas like infrastructure, education and health care, and consequently hindering the nation’s development progess, and excessive power vested in the members of the executive, who are appointees and not directly accountable to the people.
“That parliamentary was the first governance system of the First Republic, a period when legislative and executive powers wlere excercised by the people in the 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 said.
The lawmakers noted that return of Nigeria to parliamentary system would make government accountable, responsible, responsive, and ultimately less expensive.
However, at the Senate, the granting of local government, electoral reform and state creation are now in the front burner as the Nigerian Senate commenced the review of the 1999 Constitution.
9News Nigeria reports that the last Assembly failed to address these issues in the last amendment but hopes are now high on the 10th Assembly to correct the wrongs.
Despite the last attempts for the fifth alteration of the 1999 Consttitution, issues of local government autonomy, election irregularities and creation of more states are some of the issues the Senate under Godswill Akpabio will be looking at.
Even though Nigerians, groups and association would be required to bring a memorandum, the Senate has constituted a 43- member committee for Constitution amendment by the 10th National Assembly.
-9News Nigeria.
