Parliamentary Govt, 30 Other Bills Pass Second Reading In Reps

The House of Representatives has passed through second reading, a bill seeking to return the country to a parliamentary system of government and replace the present presidential system being practised.

The proposed legislation is titled; “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for the Office of the Prime Minister as Head of Government and the Office of President as Head of State and to Provide for a Framework for the Mode of Election to the Said Offices and for Related Matters (HB.1115).”

Sponsored by the House Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, and 59 others, the bill was amongst the 31 Constitution alterations pieces of legislations were read for the second time at the plenary on Thursday.

The proposed legislations seeks to replace the President with a Prime Minister to serve as the Head of Government and establish the office of the President as a ceremonial leader with the elective offices chosen from the elected members of the legislature.

It also intends to shift the process of electing Governors and Chairmen of Local Governments from general elections to voting within their respective legislative bodies, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and foster closer collaboration between the executive and legislative branches.

Another key bill which passed second reading is the one seeking to alter Sections 134 (1)(a), 2(a), (4)(a) and 179 (2)(a) and (3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution by changing the system of the simple majority of electing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State Governors where there are more than two candidates to ensure the winner scores more than half of the total votes cast.

Sponsored by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante(PDP, Rivers) the bill seeks to correct the lacunae in the present system of the election where a run-off election would be conducted to ensure that the winners in the Presidential and Governorship elections score more than half of the total votes cast.

This is to ensure: ”a more legitimate outcome of election; more legitimate outcome of election; more popular candidates emerges; the majority wish prevails, and Consensus building.

Relatedly, the bill for an act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 to review the requirements that qualifies a persons to be elected as President and Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governors and Deputy Governors.

Sponsored by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere(PDP, Imo) the bills seeks to make Bachelor’s Degree mandatory qualification for the offices and barred those above 60 years from seeking election into these positions.

Equally passed is bill for an act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to Set Time within which civil and criminal cases and matters are heard and determined at trial and appellate courts in order to eliminate unnecessary delay in justice administration and delivery.

Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and other lawmakers, the bill seeks to provide for the alteration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Altered) to set time within which the matters are heard and determined at trial and appellate courts in order to eliminate unnecessary delays in justice administration and delivery.

According to the bill’s draft, “In any civil or criminal matter except in election petition, a trial superior court of record shall deliver its judgement in writing within 270 days from the date of the filing of civil or criminal matter. In any civil or criminal matter except in election petition, a trial inferior court of record or tribunal shall deliver its judgement in writing within 210 days from the date of the filing of the civil or criminal matter.

Other bills which scaled second reading include those for: the creation of Wan state in North-central and Gobir state in Northwest; Bende North Local Government Area Out of the Present Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, to Rename Bende Local Government Area as Bende South Local Government Area of Abia State, Ughievwen Local Government Area in Delta State, Additional Local Government Areas in Enugu State,

additional Local Government Area in Imo State to be known as Ideato West Local Government Area, Moriki Local Government Area from the present Zurmi Local Government, Zamfara State.