Reactions as Reps Seek Amendment to Transition Nigeria from Presidential to Parliamentary System

Members of the House of Representatives in Nigeria are pushing for a significant change in the country’s governance structure.

No fewer than 60 lawmakers are advocating for an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to transition Nigeria from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government.

Led by Wale Raji, an APC representative from Lagos State, these lawmakers cite reasons such as reducing the cost of government and encouraging robust policy debates for this proposed shift.

In a parliamentary system, the head of government, often also the head of state, gains legitimacy through the support (“confidence”) of the legislature, typically a parliament, to which they are accountable. This system contrasts with a presidential system, where the executive branch is separate from the legislative branch.

The call for this transition comes amidst growing concerns in Nigeria over the soaring cost of living and widespread hardship, attributed to factors such as the removal of fuel subsidies, the devaluation of the Naira, and other challenging economic policies.

This move is not without its critics, as opposition figures like Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, have urged President Bola Tinubu’s government to reduce the cost of governance.