House Of Representatives Wants Nigeria Returned To Parliamentary System

A group of 71 lawmakers of the House of Representatives, mostly from the
opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have canvassed for the
return of Nigeria from the presidential to the parliamentary system of
government.

Briefing newsmen at the National Assembly in Abuja on
Thursday, spokesmen of the group, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) and
Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta), said the parliamentary system, as opposed
to the presidential system, suits Nigeria because it is more economic
friendly, cost effective and largely efficient in the conduct of
government business.

Rising from “Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2018,” the lawmakers
lamented that whereas, countries under the parliamentary system were
prospering, the presidential system has “reduced Nigeria to the poverty
capital of the world.”

“We are 71 bi-partisan members of the
House of Representatives, who feel that the parliamentary system of
government promulgated by the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 is the best
for Nigeria since the presidential system has reduced us to the poverty
capital of the world.

“Our position in this legislation clearly
points to compelling advantages of parliamentary system of government,
such as economic growth and development, as well as inherent efficiency
in the conduct of government business.

“Studies have shown that
countries under the presidential regimes consistently produce lower
output, volatile inflation and greater income inequality relative to
those under parliamentary system,” the group said.

However, this
is coming just few months to the expiration of the legislative life of
the 8th Assembly, thus raising concern over the period required to push
the bill through the normal legislative process.

The bill, if
passed, will also require the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari to
become law, and be enshrined in the Constitution.

Recall that
Nigeria practised the British-styled parliamentary system of government
in the First Republic, from 1960 until 15 January, 1966 when the
military took power.

However, the 1979 Constitution returned the
country to the US-styled presidential system of government, largely
because of the tensions and acrimonious politics of the First Republic.

Aside
Ossai, other members of the group present at the briefing include
Abdulsamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), Boma Goodhead (PDP, Rivers), Timothy
Golu (PDP, Plateau), Gabriel Onyenwife (PDP, Anambra), Sergius Ogun
(PDP, Edo), Emeka Ujam (PDP, Enugu) among others.