A bill seeking to introduce the parliamentary system of government to the country has passed the second reading stage at the house of representatives.
The constitution amendment bill is sponsored by Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, and 59 lawmakers.
The proposed legislation intends to create the office of the prime minister as head of government and the office of president as head of state.
Nigeria currently practices a presidential system of government which allows for a direct election of the president.
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The key distinction between both systems lies in how leaders are chosen. In a presidential system, the citizens directly elect the president, whereas, in a parliamentary system, the legislature appoints a prime minister, with less defined separation of powers.
Nigeria practised the parliamentary system of government from 1960 to 1963 during the first republic.
The debate over Nigeria’s system of government has persisted for decades.
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Proponents of the parliamentary system argue that it would reduce cost of governance unlike the presidential system which vests excessive powers in the members of the executive — who are appointees and not directly accountable to the people.
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