Abuja, Nigeria – The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a series of significant constitutional amendment bills for second reading, including a groundbreaking proposal to establish the Office of the Prime Minister as head of government while retaining the President as head of state.
Key Constitutional Amendments Advancing
Among the 32 bills that scaled second reading, notable proposals include:
Gender Representation Bill – Proposes specific legislative seats for women in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to enhance female political participation.
Electoral Reform Bill – Aims to shorten the timeline for resolving pre-election disputes and establish dedicated pre-election tribunals. Also seeks to regulate the suspension process of National Assembly members.
Eligibility Review Bill – Intends to modify qualification requirements for presidential, vice-presidential, gubernatorial, and deputy gubernatorial candidates.
FCT Status Review Bill – Proposes adjustments to the Federal Capital Territory’s constitutional standing concerning presidential elections.
New State Creation Bills – Includes proposals for the establishment of Wan State and Gobir State.
Next Steps in Legislative Process
With 113 constitutional amendment bills now past second reading, the proposals will proceed to committee stage for detailed scrutiny and public hearings before returning to the House for final consideration.
Implications of Proposed Changes
The Prime Minister bill, if eventually passed, could fundamentally restructure Nigeria’s governance system, introducing a parliamentary-style executive model. Meanwhile, the gender representation bill reflects growing demands for inclusive governance.
The reforms collectively signal the National Assembly’s push to address long-standing structural, electoral, and representational gaps in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
