LIVE UPDATES
The lower legislative house, House of Representatives proposes a shift to the previous system of government operational in Nigeria.
There were sixty members of the House of Representatives who jointly proposed a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, seeking to replace the current presidential system with a parliamentary system.
An All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Lagos State, Wale Raji sponsored the bill and it was read for the first time in the House.
The lawmakers noted that the shift is aimed at reducing government costs and fostering robust policy debates.
It is noteworthy that under the parliamentary system, there is no strict separation of powers between the legislature and the executive, as ministers are appointed from the parliament.
However, the president must assent to the proposed bill for it to become law and be enshrined in the Constitution. If the president declines to assent, the National Assembly can override his veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
The proposed amendment has sparked a debate among Nigerians, with some expressing support for a parliamentary system, citing its potential to promote accountability and efficiency in governance. Others, however, have raised concerns about the feasibility of such a change and its implications for the country's political stability.
Supporters of the bill argue that a parliamentary system would enable faster decision-making and more effective oversight of the executive branch. They also believe that it would encourage greater cooperation between the executive and legislative branches, leading to better governance.
Critics, on the other hand, argue that Nigeria's current presidential system provides for a clearer separation of powers and ensures checks and balances between the branches of government. They also point out that transitioning to a parliamentary system would require significant constitutional changes and could potentially destabilize the country's political landscape.
