No fewer than 60 members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday proposed a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and return the country to a parliamentary system.
The Reps were seeking a constitutional amendment that would replace the current presidential system with the parliamentary also known as the ministerial or cabinet system of government.
Wale Raji, a lawmaker from Lagos State in the All Progressives Congress, was a prominent sponsor of the bill, which was read for the first time in the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers cited the need to reduce government costs as well as robust policy debates as reasons for demanding a return to the parliamentary system.
A parliamentary system, or parliamentary democracy, is a system of democratic government where the head of government (who may also be the head of state) derives their democratic legitimacy from their ability to command the support (“confidence”) of the legislature, typically a parliament, to which they are accountable.
The countries that currently practise parliamentary system of government are Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel, Malaysia, Denmark, Germany, and Italy among others.
Nigeria practised the cabinet system under the 1960 and 1963 constitutions.
Here are a few things to know:
Table of Contents
1. Two heads – state and government
In a parliamentary system, the head of state and head of government are usually two separate positions, with the head of state serving as a ceremonial figurehead with little if any power, while all of the real political power is vested in the head of government.
2. Monarchs
In a parliamentary system of government, countries may be constitutional monarchies, where a monarch is the head of state while the head of government is almost always a member of parliament.
3. Republics
In a few parliamentary republics, among some others, the head of government is also head of state, but is elected by and is answerable to parliament.
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4. Bicameral is possible
In bicameral parliaments, the head of government is generally, though not always, a member of the lower house.
5. Ministers in legislature
In the parliamentary system of government, the responsibility of the ministers is to the legislature. The head of legislature is the prime-minister and the head of the council of ministers.
In retrospect Nigeria’s cabinet system from 1960 to 1966
From 1960 to 1963, the head of state under the Constitution of 1960 was the queen of Nigeria, Elizabeth II who was also the queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.
However, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe served as the first president from 1 October 1963 to 16 January 1966, while late. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the Prime Minister from 1960 – 1963.
The system gave powers to regions controlled by Premiers who were the following: Northern Nigeria Ahmadu Bello (1959–1966) Western Nigeria Samuel Akintola (1960–1966) Eastern Nigeria: Michael Okpara (1960–1966).
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