Nigerian Lawmakers Consider Parliamentary System of Government as Bill for Prime Minister Passes Second Reading

Lawmakers Advance Bill for Prime Minister Office: The House of Representatives passed the second reading of a bill to establish the Office of the Prime Minister as head of government and the President as head of state.
Key Constitutional Amendments Progress: Proposals for reserved legislative seats for women, changes to pre-election petition timelines, and revised eligibility criteria for top political offices also moved forward.
New States Proposed: Bills for the creation of Wan State and Gobir State passed the second reading alongside 113 other constitutional amendment bills.

A bill to create the Office of the Prime Minister as head of government and the Office of President as head of state, and to provide a framework for the mode of election to these offices, has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill was among 32 constitutional amendment bills that scaled the second reading in the House on Thursday.

Also among the bills is a proposal to alter the 1999 Constitution to allocate specific seats for women in the National Assembly and state houses of assembly.

Another bill seeks to amend the Constitution to shorten the period for determining pre-election petitions, establish pre-election tribunals, and regulate the process for suspending National Assembly members from legislative duties.

Additionally, a bill proposing changes to the eligibility requirements for presidential, gubernatorial, and deputy positions passed the second reading.

A separate amendment seeks to review the status of the Federal Capital Territory regarding presidential elections. Proposals for the creation of Wan State and Gobir State also advanced to the next legislative stage.

So far, about 113 constitutional amendment bills have passed the second reading.

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