By Oluseye Ojo
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, has commended the National Assembly for recognising the need to reduce the cost of governance and restructure Nigeria’s political system.
Afenifere agreed that changing from a presidential to a parliamentary system is a positive step, saying the organisation believed that the country must also return to the arrangement that was in place before military intervention in 1966.
The bill proposing a transition to a parliamentary system of government passed its first reading in the House of Representatives on February 14, 2024.
The bill, etitled ‘The Bills Proposing Constitutional Alterations for a Transition to Parliamentary System of Government’, was sponsored by 60 members of the House, being led by Hon Wale Raji, representing Epe Federal Constituency in Lagos State on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at a press conference, one of the bill’s sponsors, Hon Abdulssamad Dasuki from Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Sokoto State, argued that the present presidential system adopted attributes of military rule, rather than improving governance.
Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, however, noted that Nigeria’s problems stemmed from its structure, not just its system of government. The organisation insisted that restructuring is necessary to address these issues effectively.
It also disagreed with the proposed implementation date of 2031, stating that the legislative work and restructuring must be completed within the first two to three years of the current administration.
The group suggested that the new law should be tested in state elections in 2026 and implemented for the 2027 general elections.
“The new law can be test-run in the states’ elections that will take place in 2026 while the 2027 general elections must be conducted on the basis of a constitution proclaiming United Regions of Nigeria under a Parliamentary System of Government. Such a system should be one that confers powers to the constituent parts on matters affecting their respective areas.
“In other words, the constituent parts must be able to determine a lot of things about themselves in as much as such determination does not negatively affect or threaten national interests.”
Afenifere emphasised the importance of conferring power to the constituent parts of Nigeria, allowing them to determine matters that affect their respective areas.
The group highlighted the urgency of addressing, such a pivotal issue for the country’s existence, urging the lawmakers to synthesise the 1963 Republican Constitution, the 2014 Confab Report, and the APC Committee Report on Restructuring, led by former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai.
Afenifere stated that public debates should centre on these reports to create a constitutional framework that aligns with the current realities of Nigeria.
“The new law can be test-run in the states’ elections that will take place in 2026 while the 2027 general elections must be conducted on the basis of a constitution proclaiming United Regions of Nigeria under a Parliamentary System of Government. Such a system should be one that confers powers to the constituent parts on matters affecting their respective areas.
“In other words, the constituent parts must be able to determine a lot of things about themselves in as much as such determination does not negatively affect or threaten national interests.”