As Nigerians grapple with President Bola Tinubu’s cost-cutting measures, a group of 35 House of Representatives members have proposed a radical change: a single six-year term for both the president and state governors.
The Bill also introduces a rotational presidency among the country’s six geopolitical zones.
While the proposal is undoubtedly bold, opinions remain divided. “Reformed-minded legislators,” as the group of 35 calls themselves, see the plan as a path to national unity, smoother transitions, and unprecedented development.
Spokesperson Ikenga Ugochinyere argues a single term will reduce “desperation and tempo of agitation” for new states, while ensuring equal representation through rotation. He believes it will also curb government spending and promote efficiency.
The lawmakers’ proposal came amid a troubling report alleging 30 state governors of blowing N968.64bn on refreshments in three months, opinions about the significance and potential of the Bill remain fraught.
However, some experts point out that the single term aspect isn’t entirely novel.
They specifically mentioned the six years term limit for the President and state governors as an example.
They noted that similar call was made during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan but that the proposal fell by the wayside even before making its ways into the hollow chambers of the Senate and the Reps.
Report indicated that Dr. Reuben Abati, former Presidential spokesperson had in July, 2011 told newsmen that that former President Goodluck Jonathan was contemplating forwarding a Bill of single term tenure for the President and governors.
However, a ranking Senator at that time noted that the Bill suffered a setback because such sensitive Bill should not have come from the Presidency in the first place.
While Nigeria hasn’t embrace this single term policy, countries like Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador are some of the countries with a single term limits in the World.
Beyond Cost-Cutting
The proposal’s core argument hinges on reducing the exorbitant cost of governance. Analysts agree that excessive spending stifles development and fuels political ambition. Nigeria consistently ranks high in global governance spending, leaving citizens mired in poverty despite cost-cutting efforts.
The Orosanye Report, commissioned in 2009, remains the most comprehensive attempt to address this issue. It proposed merging, relocating, or even scrapping certain government agencies – a plan that never saw full implementation due to a lack of political will until recently when it appears President Tinubu is willing to take some bold steps.
Jimi Fadayo, an analyst, acknowledges that a single term alone might not solve all of Nigeria’s problems. However, he believes a rotational presidency could address feelings of marginalization, fostering a sense of national belonging.
“So, realistically”, Fadayo posited “neither a single term of six years or rotational Presidency can make Nigeria’s myriads of problems to go away in one fell swoop, but I agree totally that a rotational Presidency will tackle marginalization in the country. It will give everyone a sense of belonging”.
He furthered that unless critical stakeholders agree to address some of the country’s deep challenges with open-mind, patriotic zeal and readiness to shift ground for the love of the country, nothing significant will come out of either rotational Presidency or single term of six years as being proposed by the 35 lawmakers.
