On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a bill through its second reading to establish the Office of the Prime Minister as the Head of Government and the Office of the President as the Head of State. The bill also outlines the framework for the election process for these offices. The bill, sponsored by House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda and 59 other lawmakers, aims to restructure the political system.
Additionally, lawmakers are pushing for support for a bill that seeks to revise the election process for State Governors, Deputy Governors, and the appointment of state commissioners. Another bill proposes changes to how Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Local Government Councils are elected across Nigeria.
Also under consideration is a bill aimed at shortening the time for resolving pre-election petition matters and establishing pre-election tribunals to regulate the process of suspending elected National Assembly members. This bill comes after the recent six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following an altercation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Another bill that passed its second reading is one proposing a change from a simple majority to a more comprehensive method for electing the President of Nigeria and State Governors. Another bill would grant both chambers of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly the authority to summon the President and State Governors to answer questions on matters related to national security or other issues within their legislative jurisdiction.
The House also passed a bill on Thursday that seeks to transfer the power to register and regulate political parties in Nigeria from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Office of the Registrar General of Political Parties.
Furthermore, a bill was passed that proposes setting timelines for the presentation of the Appropriations Bill.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, also informed members on Tuesday of a March 31, 2025, deadline for submitting state creation requests, noting that 30 new states have been proposed, though none currently meet the constitutional requirements.
All bills related to constitutional amendments will be forwarded to the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Speaker Kalu, for further consideration.