Rita Odafe
A bill suggesting a constitutional amendment to establish a single six-year term for the positions of President, State Governors, and Local Government Chairmen has successfully passed its first reading at the House of Representatives in Nigeria. The bill, put forward by a private member and backed by 50 other lawmakers, aims to minimize the costs associated with frequent four-year election cycles.
The proposed legislation seeks modifications to Sections 7, 135, 137, 180, and 182 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). One of the clauses intends to change Section 7 by introducing a new subsection (5) specifying that Local Government Chairmen should serve for a single term of six years from their election date.
Another clause in the bill focuses on amending Section 135 to extend the President’s term to six years instead of four, with provisions for exceptional circumstances like war. The bill also proposes changes to Section 137, Section 180, and Section 182 (1) to align with the six-year single term concept.
The intention behind this proposed bill is to streamline governance continuity, reduce election expenses, and potentially allow for more focused and sustained policy implementation. The bill is still in its early stages and will require further readings and deliberations before potentially becoming law.
