Lawmakers pushing for a change to the parliamentary system of government in Nigeria on Tuesday canvassed the endorsement of former governor of Osun State, Pa Bisi Akande.
The lawmakers led by Kingsley Chinda, leader of the minority cause in the House of Representatives said their visit was to tap from Pa Bisi experience in order to succeed.
Briefing Pa Bisi on the Bill, Hon. Chinda said, “Having considered the pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, we think it is necessary for us to start the process to rejig our system.
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“To start the process to move from the present American typed presidential system to a Nigerian typed parliamentary system.”
Hon. Chinda stressed that their proposal will benefit Nigeria such that it will guarantee accountability and reduce the cost of governance.
He said, “Sir, we are not talking about a water type parliamentary system, not the textbook parliamentary system but we’re talking about one that will suit our country better for purposes of accountability, reduction of costs of governance, removal of that toga or aura that is built around public officers and our leaders who ordinarily are servants of the people.“
Hon. Chinda however said they were not expecting an immediate change in the system.
“For us to understand the government better and make decisions faster and easier for all of us in the interest of our nation, and so we have proposed three bills.
“The bills have gone through the first reading to take us from the local government to the state up to the national, back to a parliamentary system of government and this process will be gradual.
“We do not expect that the change will come almost immediately. We must begin to test run the system and continue to make consequential amendments to all other laws so that we’ll all be in sync.”
Responding to the group, PA Bisi, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said “what you have started now is to test the waters from the ideas of the Nigerian people.
“Now that you put it on the table, I know it will stimulate Nigerians of all walks of life to discuss, to review, to assess, and then advice. And at the end of it, I don’t see how your system will not be productive.
“I wish you the best in your endeavor, and I wish Nigerians the enjoyment of your good ideas. And in the end, I know you will come up with something that will do all of us good.”
About 60 members of the House of Representatives cutting across the different political parties have introduced a bill to change the system of government in Nigeria from presidential to parliamentary system.
