Reps meet ACF, seek support for parliamentary government bill

Some members of the house of representatives seeking to introduce the parliamentary system of government through a bill have met with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

TheCable understands that the meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday was called to seek support for the bill which passed the first reading at the house of representatives in February.

Ango Abdullahi, chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has expressed support for the bill. 

Speaking after the meeting, Kingsley Chinda, minority leader of the house, said the merits of the bill were discussed with the leadership of the ACF.

“We are here in continuation of our attempt to get to Nigerians to explain further the bills that we have proposed on the floor of the house which we expect will take us out of the present very laborious United States type of presidential system,” Chinda, who leads the group, said.

He said the bill is proposing a “change of style that will reduce the baggage of government —a change of style that will make office holders more accountable”.

“A change of style that will make government decisions arrived at easier and the execution carried out easier,” he added.

“A change of style that will make everybody in public office not to be a passerby, not to be sleeping but to be on his toes, and to be the best to our country Nigeria.

“We came to meet the ACF, to talk to them about this and to get their buy-in, just like we are also moving round to meet persons.

“We are also drawing from their wealth of knowledge because a lot of questions are being asked, a lot of suggestions are being made and we are enriching our own knowledge which will help us in lawmaking on the floor of the parliament.”

Also speaking, Bashir Dalhatu, chairman of the ACF board of trustees (BoT), described the meeting as “very engaging and fruitful”.

“They have asked the Arewa Consultative Forum to sit with them, and engage them, and discuss the issues and define the ways to associate and support,” he said.

Dalhatu said a committee will be set up to work with the lawmakers on the proposed law by making necessary suggestions.

“We hope that in the end will be for the best benefits to Nigeria and our people, and the whole country in general,” he said.

Dalhatu said the name of the system of government does not matter but one that will take into consideration “all of our values, visions, and views and aspirations”.