Nigeria is currently operating a presidential system of government, where the president is the head of state and the head of government, and the executive branch is separate from the legislative and judicial branches.
However, this was not always the case, as Nigeria used to have a parliamentary system of government, where the prime minister was the head of government, and the executive branch was part of the legislative branch.
In this article, we will answer some of the frequently asked questions about the parliamentary system of government in Nigeria and provide you with the latest update on the recent proposal to return to it.
What is a parliamentary system of government and how does it work?
A parliamentary system of government is a system where the executive branch derives its legitimacy and authority from the legislature, which is the supreme law-making body. In a parliamentary system, the head of state is usually a ceremonial figure, such as a monarch or a president, who represents the nation and performs some constitutional functions, but has no real power. The head of government is usually a prime minister, who is the leader of the majority party or coalition in the parliament, and who appoints and presides over a cabinet of ministers. The parliament is usually bicameral, meaning it has two chambers, such as a lower house and an upper house, which are elected by the people or by other methods. The parliament is responsible for making laws, overseeing the executive, and representing the interests of the people. The prime minister and the cabinet are accountable to the parliament, and can be removed by a vote of no confidence or a dissolution of the parliament.
When and why did Nigeria adopt a parliamentary system of government?
Nigeria adopted a parliamentary system of government in 1960, when it became a federation of three regions: Northern, Western, and Eastern, each with its own regional legislature and government. This was part of the process of gradual self-government and independence from the British colonial rule, which began in 1946 with the introduction of the Richards Constitution. The parliamentary system was based on the Westminster model of the United Kingdom, which was the former colonial power. The parliamentary system was meant to accommodate the ethnic, religious, and regional diversity of Nigeria, and to foster democracy and development.
What were the features and achievements of the parliamentary system of government in Nigeria?
Some of the features and achievements of the parliamentary system of government in Nigeria were:
- The head of state was the Queen of England, represented by the Governor-General, who had limited powers and functions.
- The head of government was the Prime Minister, who was the leader of the majority party or coalition in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the parliament. The first Prime Minister was Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who led the Nigerian People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) coalition.
- The cabinet was composed of ministers who were appointed by the Prime Minister from among the members of the parliament. The cabinet was responsible for the administration of the federal government and its policies.
- The parliament was bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives had 312 members, who were elected by the people for four-year terms. The Senate had 44 members, who were elected by the regional legislatures for four-year terms. The parliament was responsible for making laws, approving the budget, and overseeing the executive.
- The regional governments had their own premiers, cabinets, and legislatures, which had considerable autonomy and powers over local matters. The regional premiers were the leaders of the majority parties or coalitions in the regional legislatures. The first regional premiers were Ahmadu Bello (Northern Region), Obafemi Awolowo (Western Region), and Nnamdi Azikiwe (Eastern Region).
- The judiciary was independent and composed of the Supreme Court, the High Court, and the Magistrate Court. The Supreme Court was the highest court of appeal and the final arbiter of constitutional matters. The Chief Justice was appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
- The parliamentary system of government in Nigeria achieved some notable successes, such as the attainment of independence from Britain in 1960, the creation of the Mid-Western Region in 1963, the adoption of a republican constitution in 1963, the establishment of the first television station in Africa in 1959, and the development of some infrastructure, education, and health facilities.
When and why did Nigeria abandon the parliamentary system of government?
Nigeria abandoned the parliamentary system of government in 1966, when it was overthrown by a military coup led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and other young officers. The coup was motivated by various factors, such as the perceived corruption, nepotism, and incompetence of the civilian government, the ethnic and regional tensions and conflicts, the disputed 1964 and 1965 elections, and the influence of the Cold War and the decolonization movements. The coup resulted in the assassination of the Prime Minister, the regional premiers, and some senior military officers, and the suspension of the constitution and the parliament. The coup was followed by a counter-coup in July 1966, which led to the emergence of General Yakubu Gowon as the head of the military government. The military government introduced a unitary system of government, which abolished the regional governments and created 12 states. The military government also faced the challenge of the Nigerian Civil War, which broke out in 1967, when the Eastern Region seceded as the Republic of Biafra. The civil war lasted until 1970, when Biafra surrendered and Nigeria was reunited.
What is the current proposal to return to the parliamentary system of government in Nigeria?
The current proposal to return to the parliamentary system of government in Nigeria is a bill that was introduced by 60 members of the House of Representatives on February 14, 2024. The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria to transition from the current presidential system to a parliamentary system at all levels: federal, state, and local government. The bill proposes that:
- The head of state will be the President, who will be elected by the parliament for a five-year term, and who will have ceremonial and constitutional functions, such as appointing the Prime Minister, assenting to bills, and declaring war.
- The head of government will be the Prime Minister, who will be the leader of the majority party or coalition in the House of Representatives, and who will appoint and preside over a cabinet of ministers. The Prime Minister will be accountable to the parliament and can be removed by a vote of no confidence or a dissolution of the parliament.
- The parliament will be bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives will have 360 members, who will be elected by the people for five-year terms. The Senate will have 109 members, who will be elected by the state legislatures for five-year terms. The parliament will be responsible for making laws, approving the budget, and overseeing the executive.
- The state governments will have their own governors, cabinets, and legislatures, which will have powers over local matters. The governors will be the leaders of the majority parties or coalitions in the state legislatures, and will appoint and preside over a cabinet of commissioners. The state legislatures will have proportional representation of the parties, and will be responsible for making laws, approving the budget, and overseeing the executive.
- The local governments will have their own chairmen, cabinets, and councils, which will have powers over grassroots matters. The chairmen will be the leaders of the majority parties or coalitions in the local councils, and will appoint and preside over a cabinet of supervisors. The local councils will have proportional representation of the parties, and will be responsible for making laws, approving the budget, and overseeing the executive.
The sponsors of the bill claim that the parliamentary system of government will reduce the cost of governance, enhance accountability and transparency, foster policy debates and consensus, and promote national unity and development.
The bill, however, faces opposition from some quarters, who argue that the parliamentary system of government will not solve the problems of Nigeria, such as corruption, insecurity, poverty, and inequality, and that the bill is a distraction from the urgent issues of constitutional review and electoral reforms.
