Members of the House of Representatives are advocating for a change that would establish a single six-year term for both the President and Governors.
Constitutional Amendment proposing that the President and 1st Vice President should be chosen from the same region (either north or south), and stipulating that the 1st Vice President would assume the role of President in case the President is unable to serve, i.e., V.P. (Succession), V.P. (Administration and Economy).
A collective of House of Representatives members, known as ‘Reform Minded Lawmakers’, have proposed electoral reforms, including advocating for a single six-year term for Presidents and Governors. These suggestions are part of several bills currently under consideration by the House.
The legislators issued the statement during a news briefing in Abuja on Monday.
Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere emphasized that constitutional and electoral reform has been a significant issue in Nigeria since gaining independence from Britain in 1960. He pointed out that in the last 50 years, this matter has caused unrest and exacerbated religious and ethnic tensions in the country.
“We are a group of Reform minded Lawmakers committed towards using the instrument of lawmaking to reform Nigeria and our political process.
“This is equally in line with our realization that our current political arrangement has some identified distortions, defects, and limitations that call for urgent, focused, and realistic attention,hence this initiative on political and Electoral reform.
“Our history as a nation shows very clearly that we have been through some difficult times. We have missed great opportunities.
“Hence, as the first step in our commitment, we are presenting to the public Bills and proposals, which will are pushing on the floor of the 10th Assembly.
“These bills will touch on every aspect of development in all sectors of our Economy and well-being as a nation.
“These bills which are 50 in numbers have gone through first reading but today we are starting with public unveiling of about 6 of them while the remaining will come in the weeks ahead”.
“Constitutional Alteration to provide for the rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones to ensure equal representation and reduce the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states.
“Amendment of section 3 of the Constitution to provide for the recognition of the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones. Amendment of the Constitution to provide for a single tenure of six years for the President and Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The reduction in government spending and wastage, efficiency in governance, and national stability by providing a single term of six years for the President and Governors.
“Amend the Constitution to create the office of two vice presidents from the southern and northern parts of Nigeria. The 1st vice shall be a succession Vice president, while the 2nd Vice president shall be a Minister in charge of the Economy, and both shall be Ministers.
“Constitutional Amendment to provide that the President and the 1st Vice President shall come from the same part of the country (north or south) and the 1st Vice President shall become President whenever the President becomes incapacitated, i.e., V.P. (Succession), V.P.
(Administration and Economy)
“The financial autonomy and accountability of Local Government Councils by prescribing an independent Consolidated Local Government Council Account solely superintended by Local Councils and prescribing long-term imprisonment for any misuse of Local Government funds”.
Rep Members Advocate Constitutional, Political Reforms with Six-Year Term for President, Governors
