The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the second reading of a landmark constitutional amendment bill that proposes the establishment of a Prime Minister as the head of government, while reserving the presidency as a ceremonial role.
This proposal, which forms part of a broader set of reforms aimed at overhauling the nation’s 1999 Constitution, has sparked debates on whether it paves the way for a return to a parliamentary system of governance.
The bill, one among 32 constitutional amendment proposals considered in the session, is designed to redefine Nigeria’s executive structure. Under the proposed framework, executive power would be bifurcated: the Prime Minister would be responsible for day-to-day governance and policy implementation, while the President would serve as the symbolic head of state.
Proponents argue that this separation of powers could lead to a more efficient and accountable government, reminiscent of parliamentary systems prevalent in countries such as the United Kingdom. Critics, however, caution that such a change might unsettle Nigeria’s deeply entrenched presidential model and lead to complex power dynamics within the political elite.
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In addition to the proposed executive reforms, the legislative agenda for the day included a series of bills aimed at modernizing other aspects of Nigeria’s governance. Among these are measures to:
- Enhance Gender Representation: A bill seeking to reserve a specific number of seats for women in both the national assembly and state houses of assembly.
- Streamline Electoral Disputes: Legislation aimed at shortening the duration for resolving pre-election petition matters by establishing dedicated pre-election tribunals and refining the rules surrounding the suspension of legislators.
- Reevaluate Electoral Eligibility: A proposal to review and potentially adjust the eligibility criteria for high offices including the presidency, vice-presidency, governorships, and deputy governorships.
- Redefine Federal Territories and Create New States: Bills to reassess the electoral status of the Federal Capital Territory as well as to facilitate the creation of Wan State and Gobir State.
These initiatives bring the total number of constitutional amendment bills that have successfully cleared the second reading to 113, underscoring a period of intense legislative activity focused on institutional reform.
Political analysts are divided over the potential ramifications of adopting a parliamentary system. Advocates believe that a Prime Minister-led government could improve policy responsiveness and mitigate some of the gridlock that has historically hampered Nigeria’s executive-legislative relations.
Conversely, skeptics argue that shifting to a parliamentary model may introduce new challenges, including intra-party conflicts and a possible dilution of presidential authority, which has been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s modern political framework.
