Former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has called for Nigeria to abandon the presidential system of government in favor of a parliamentary system, which he argues is better suited to the nation’s needs. Aregbesola made the remarks during a National Dialogue on a Home-Grown Parliamentary System held in Abuja on Monday.
The former Minister of Interior voiced his opposition to Nigeria’s current executive system, arguing that concentrating power in a single individual is not viable for a nation of Nigeria’s size and complexity. “Believing that one individual could govern 120 million people effectively without substantial checks is unrealistic,” Aregbesola said. “The parliamentary system’s collective approach is best for a country like Nigeria, especially if we aim to advance the interests of our large and diverse population.”
A push for a return to the parliamentary system has been gathering momentum in recent years. In February, a group of around 60 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, led by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, introduced a bill proposing amendments to the 1999 Constitution to transition from the presidential system. The group argues that a parliamentary system would reduce governance costs amid declining revenue.
The bill, titled “The Bills Proposing Constitutional Alterations for a Transition to Parliamentary System of Government,” was read on the House floor during a plenary session on February 14. Abdussamad Dasuki, spokesperson for the sponsors, emphasized the need for change, saying, “Lawmakers across party lines and regions are united in proposing these constitutional amendments to transition to a parliamentary system. The flaws in the presidential system have become increasingly evident, even with numerous constitutional changes intended to fix them.”
