A former governor of Osun State and immediate past Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has backed calls for Nigeria to abandon the presidential system of government in favour of a parliamentary system.
Aregbesola gave the support when he spoke at the National Dialogue on Home-Grown Parliamentary System in Abuja on Monday. Revealing his opposition to the executive system currently practised in the country, the ex-minister argued that a parliamentary system, with its collective arrangement, is better suited to a nation like Nigeria.
“If you go on believing that an individual, no matter how beautiful, no matter how good, could have the capacity to govern 120 million people all alone without checks, we are joking. So, by that consideration alone, I am opposed to executive system of government,” Aregbesola said. “I believe the collective arrangement which the parliamentary system guarantees is best for a nation like Nigeria if indeed we are committed to advancing the interest of the large population and mass of our people.”
In February, a group of about 60 lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced a bill proposing amendments to the 1999 Constitution to transition from the current presidential system to a parliamentary system. The group argued that the shift is necessary to reduce the cost of government amidst declining revenue.
Titled, “The Bills Proposing Constitutional Alterations for a Transition to Parliamentary System of Government,” the proposal was led by House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda and co-sponsored by 59 other representatives. The bill was read on the floor of the House during a plenary session in Abuja on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
Abdussamad Dasuki, a spokesperson for the Parliamentary Bill Sponsors, stated, “Today, we stand on the cusp of history, as lawmakers across party affiliations and regional backgrounds come together to present bills proposing Constitutional Alterations that seek a transition to Parliamentary System of Government.”
He stressed that, over the years, the flaws of the Presidential System of Government have become increasingly evident, even after several amendments, denying the nation the chance to reach its full potential.
