Parliamentary system led Nigeria into unwarranted disaster, says Fashola

Babatunde Fashola, former minister of works and housing, says the parliamentary system of government led Nigeria into “unwarranted disaster” when it was practised in the country. 

Fashola spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, on Saturday at the 30th anniversary of Yusuf Ali & Co. (Ghalib Chambers), a law firm.

Recently, there has been a clamour for the country to reintroduce the parliamentary system of government.

Nigeria used the system of government between 1960 and 1963.

In February 2024, a bill seeking to introduce the parliamentary system scaled the first reading at the house of representatives.

The bill was sponsored by 60 lawmakers, who said 2031 is the proposed year to transition to the system of government.

Speaking on the situation, Fashola urged the proponents to reflect on the causes of its “collapse” in the First Republic and ascertain if the issues “had been sorted out or not”.

He added that the system “failed” the country and only quality governance would shape Nigeria better.

“They should reflect on whether the reasons which caused its collapse in the First Republic had been sorted out or not,” the former minister said.

“Nigeria once practised this parliamentary system, but it failed and led the country into unwarranted disaster.

“Let us think deeply on why the parliamentary system failed us and ask ourselves if we have overcome those reasons.”