By Ghazali Ibrahim 
In a significant move towards constitutional reform, the House of Representatives has passed 32 bills, including a major proposal to establish the office of the Prime Minister as the head of government.
The proposed amendment, which passed its second reading, seeks to separate the functions of governance and ceremonial representation, effectively restructuring Nigeria’s executive leadership. The President would serve as the head of state, while the Prime Minister would oversee the day-to-day governance of the country.
Other notable bills that progressed through the legislative process include a proposal to allocate specific seats for women in the National Assembly and state houses of assembly, enhancing gender representation and inclusivity.
Additionally, a bill aimed at expediting the resolution of pre-election petition matters by reducing the time required for determination and establishing pre-election tribunals also passed its second reading.
The House also considered a bill to review the qualifications required for candidates seeking the offices of President, Vice President, Governor, and Deputy Governor of Nigeria.
Further constitutional alterations include a proposal to reassess the status of the Federal Capital Territory concerning the election of the President, alongside bills advocating for the creation of Wan State and Gobir State.
With these developments, the total number of constitutional amendment bills that have successfully passed the second reading in the House of Representatives has now reached 113.
The passage of these bills marks a significant step towards constitutional reform in Nigeria, and lawmakers are optimistic that these changes will bring about positive transformation in the country’s governance structure.
