The call for the Nigeria to return to the parliamentary system of government is gaining more momentum following the decision of an elder statesman Aminu Dantata who threw his wight behind it.
“Parliamentary system is better and cheaper for Nigeria but the presidential system is very costly, especially with the current economic situation in the country,” Dantata said on Thursday in Kano
There has been calls recently to ditch the Presidential system which the country currently practices over its cost that has become too unbearable for the country.
Not a few Nigerians have demanded a return to the parliamentary system which the country practiced after Independence in 1960 before the government was overthrown by the military.
On the return to democracy in 1979, the presidential system was introduced, and has since been in practice.
Earlier in the week however, some lawmakers in the house of Representatives demanded a return to the former system which they contended was more beneficial in terms of cost effectiveness.
On Wednesday, 60 lawmakers in the House of Reps sponsored a bill titled “The Bills proposing constitutional alterations for a transition to parliamentary system of government,’ which they said was intended to change Nigeria to a parliamentary democracy.
According to the sponsor of the bill, Kingsly Chinda, who is also the Minority Leader of the House, the change has become imperative due to the high cost of running a presidential system of government.
The bill was read for the first time on the floor of the House during Wednesday’s plenary session in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The leader of the group, Wale Raji while speaking remarked that the parliamentary system promotes a robust policy debates aside from reducing the cost of governance.
Another lawmaker Abdulssamad Dasuki who spoke at a press conference after the bill has been read, disclosed that a change to parliamentary would have a sweeping impact of the nation’s political landscape.
He explained that the system worked for the country for the six years it was in operation before the government was truncated due to the military incursion into power in 1966.
The lawmaker said in part, “Our founders in their wisdom and in a political atmosphere devoid of compulsion, and having considered the interests of their native peoples and their desire to live together in a country where truth and justice reign, where no man is oppressed, and where all citizens live in peace and plenty, adopted the parliamentary system of government.
“That was the governance system of the First Republic, a period when legislative and executive powers were exercised by the representatives of the people in parliament and in the executive, and by the nature of the system, these representatives were accountable to the people.
“For six years while it was in operation, the system worked for the country.”
“The collapse of the First Republic and the long stretch of military rule culminated in the adoption of a new system of government, theoretically fashioned after the presidential system of the United States but in practice, imbibed the uttermost attributes of military rule.
“No wonder the Nigerian President appears to be one of the most powerful presidents in the world.
“Over the years, the imperfections of the presidential system of government have become glaring to all, despite several alterations to the constitution to address the shortcomings of a system that has denied the nation the opportunity of attaining its full potential.
“Among these imperfections are the high cost of governance, leaving fewer resources for crucial areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, and consequently hindering the nation’s development progress, and the excessive powers vested in the members of executive, who are appointees and not directly accountable to the people.
“The bills presented today (Wednesday) seek a return to the system of government adopted by our founders, which made governance accountable, responsible and responsive, and ultimately less expensive.”
The magazine notes that under the parliamentary system, the Head of State shares power with the Prime Minister who is the head of government.
