Dantata Backs Bill To Transit To Parliamentary Governance

An Elder statesman Alhaji Aminu Dantata has endorsed the bill requesting the transition from a presidential system of government to a parliamentary system.

He stated this on Thursday when some members of the House of Representatives spearheading the transition move paid him a consultation visit at his Kano residence.

Speaking on the development Dantata said the parliamentary system is better than the presidential system of government because it is cheaper.

Recall that the bill seeking to transform the presidential system of government into a parliamentary system has passed its first reading in the House of Representatives. 

The bill sponsored by sixty lawmakers entitled “The Bills proposing constitutional alterations for a transition to a parliamentary system of government,”  was read for the first time during Wednesday’s plenary in Abuja.

After the plenary, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki (Sokoto, PDP), the spokesperson for the sixty-member group, briefed reporters, stating that the proposed changes would have a major influence on the political landscape of the country if they were passed.

He claims that in spite of multiple constitutional amendments aimed at resolving the flaws of a system that has prevented the country from realizing its full potential, the faults of the Presidential System of Government have grown increasingly obvious over time.

He listed the high expense of governance as one of these flaws, saying that it leaves less money for important sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, and education, which impedes the country’s progress toward development. Another is the excessive power held by appointees in the executive branch, who are not directly answerable to the people.

He said that the proposals being offered aim to restore the kind of government that our forefathers established, which was responsive, accountable, and ultimately less costly.

In addition to ensuring robust public debates, stakeholder consultations, expert analyses, and an exhaustive and informed decision-making process, Dasuki explained that the House hopes to raise awareness about this significant development and to encourage constructive dialogue on the potential implications of these proposed constitutional alterations. 

By presenting these bills, the House hopes to ignite and provoke a national conversation about the future of the Nigerian governance system.

“Today, we stand on the cusp of history, as lawmakers across party affiliations and regional backgrounds come together to present bills proposing Constitutional Alterations that seek a transition to a Parliamentary System of Government.

“These bills, seeking to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, advocate a transition from the current presidential system to a parliamentary system at all levels – federal, state, and local government.”