The pan socio-political organisation, Middle Belt Forum (MBF), has said that the transition of the parliamentary system as proposed by 60 House of Representatives members should take off in 2027 and not 2031.
According to the organisation, the speculation in some quarters that the transition should be done in 2031 when President Bola Tinubu must have finished two terms in office does not make sense, reports Daily Independent.
Recall that a few days ago, a group of 60 lawmakers, known as the Parliamentary Group, initiated a move to end the current presidential system and revert to the parliamentary system previously used in the First Republic. The bill has already passed the first reading.
According to Dr. Isuwa Dogo, National Publicity Secretary of MBF, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent, noted that the parliamentary system is cheaper and more beneficial to the country.
He said, “The parliamentary system should be transitioned in 2027 at the end of the first tenure of President Bola Tinubu. They should amend the constitution and allow the change to take effect in 2027 and not 2031.
On the speculation that the lawmakers settled for 2031 to allow Tinubu to finish his second tenure, Dogo said, “Who told them that Tinubu would win a second term in 2027 if he contests? His tenure ends in 2027. It is democratic illiteracy. The talk that it should be done in 2031 does not make sense. It is not right for anybody to start thinking like that. If there is a change to the parliamentary system, if Tinubu’s party wins the majority in the House, they can still elect him to become the Prime Minister. If he contests the election and becomes a senator or whatever name we choose to give it, he will still be elected by his party members to become the Prime Minister so he can continue, if that is their wish.
“He can even continue in perpetuity until the day the party removes him if the party keeps having the majority they will keep on ruling. That is the difference between the parliamentary and the presidential system because it is from the House that they will choose who should be Prime Minister. If his party continues to be the majority and they decide that he should be the one, so be it.”
Responding to questions about the concerns of some quarters that the parliamentary system does not give room for checks and balances, he said, “What are the checks and balances that we have now? There’s no restructuring under the presidential system of government that will affect the Presidency, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the governorship or local government chairmanship, and the judiciary. If they say that the three arms of government are equal, it is not correct. Is it not the executive that elects members of the judiciary? Are they equal? Don’t they send them to the Senate for approval? Are they equal? Do they send the senators to the judiciary for approval? You also notice that almost every election goes to the judiciary. The argument about equality is not tenable. We will need a cheaper system, that is more affordable for Nigerians and if you have a good leader, he can use those resources to develop the country. We have legislators on humongous salaries, they should be on part-time. When you attend the sitting you get a sitting allowance. If you have your job and it is better for you to concentrate on it, you are not going to be looking to be a politician and to call yourself a senator and perambulate, claiming that you are a big man. So, you know that politics is not a place to make money but where to provide service. You provide service and make a name and not become a billionaire. Tinubu’s tenure ends in 2027, the parliamentary system of government can go ahead immediately,” he added.
