Reps Pass Bill to Scrap Presidential System, Adopt Parliamentary Governance

By Ekpenyong Emmanuel

The House of Representatives has passed a bill seeking to return Nigeria to the parliamentary system of government.

The proposed legislation, which passed its second reading, aims to establish the office of the Prime Minister as Head of Government and the President as Head of State.

Sponsored by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda and 59 other lawmakers, the bill seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution and introduce a parliamentary framework.

This framework would shift executive authority from the President to a Prime Minister elected by the legislature.

Nigeria previously operated a parliamentary system in the First Republic, from 1960 to 1966, with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as ceremonial President.

The new bill’s proponents argue that this system would reduce the cost of government and foster more robust policy debates.

The passage of the bill is a significant development in Nigeria’s political landscape.

If successful, it would mark a major shift in the country’s governance structure.

The bill is among 32 constitutional amendment bills passed by the lawmakers during a recent plenary session.