‘Presidential System Not Suitable, Present Leadership Is A Failure’ — Northern Elders Back Parliamentary Rule

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed support for the plan to introduce a parliamentary system of government in Nigeria. This is in response to the bill sponsored by 60 lawmakers that passed the first reading at the House of Representatives last week. Currently, Nigeria operates under a presidential system of government.

The NEF's Chairman, Ango Abdullahi, stated that the present leadership has failed and that a change in the system of government is necessary. He believes that a parliamentary system would be more suitable for Nigeria, as it would give more power to the legislature and reduce the concentration of power in the presidency.

The bill proposes that the president will no longer be the head of state, but rather the head of government. The prime minister, who will be elected by the majority party in the House of Representatives, will become the head of state. This would shift the balance of power from the presidency to the legislature and could potentially lead to more accountability and transparency in government.

It is worth noting that the introduction of a parliamentary system in Nigeria would require a constitutional amendment. The current constitution provides for a presidential system of government, with the president holding significant executive powers. Any changes to the constitution would need to be approved by two-thirds of both houses of the National Assembly and then ratified by at least two-thirds of state assemblies.

The NEF's support for a parliamentary system comes after years of criticism of the current presidential system, which has been accused of being too centralized and concentrating too much power in the presidency. Some have argued that this has led to corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of accountability in government.

In conclusion, the NEF's support for a parliamentary system of government in Nigeria is a response to growing calls for change in the country's political system. While any changes would require significant constitutional amendments, it is clear that many Nigerians are dissatisfied with the current system and believe that a shift towards more democratic governance is necessary.