The House of Representatives Tuesday rejected a Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for a Single Term of Six Years for the President and Governors.
The Bill, sponsored by John Dyegh (APC, Benue) also proposed a six-year term for Members of the National Assembly and States Houses of Assembly.
During debate on the general principles of the Bill, it received divergent arguments for and against but when eventually put to voice vote, by the Deputy Speaker, Idris Ease who presided over the plenary, it was loudly voted against.
In a lead debate, Dyegh argued that the need for the amendment Act was against the backdrop that, a single term especially for federal and state lawmakers will allow them to have more experience instead of being rejected or reelected every four years.
He said the six-year single term will equally help the president or governor to be more focused, more dedicated and the usual do or die battles for reelections will be eliminated while no lives will be lost and money will be saved.
“Hon. Speaker, Hon. Colleagues, you will agree with me that the present four years + four years tenures of 8 years is not helping matters, it is taking us backwards. Practically speaking, the occupier of the seat spends only two years in the 1st tenure and the remaining two fighting for reelection which in Nigeria is many times more expensive than the first election and mostly dependent on lean resources of the state allegedly.
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“In the second tenure he spends two and half years working on the remaining 1½ years preparing his exit/soft landing and installation of a successor. So the total times spent for actual work for the state is not more than 4½ years of the 8 years.
“Speaker, Hon. Colleagues, if we must deepen our democracy, we must reduce ‘wars’ that occur during reelection of Presidents and Governors by supporting a single term of 6 years.
“Amending the constitution to provide for a six year consecutive term for the Legislature (State and National Legislature) is a progressive idea and should well be considered by this Honourable House.
“The high turn-over of legislators in our Nation Constitutes loss of experience and institutional knowledge, not deepening democracy and failure of entrenching loyalty to the electorate. This is as opposed to the Civil Service practice where a fresh graduate rises through the ranks using over 30 years to become a Director or Permanent Secretary and sets as a custodian/bundle of knowledge of all that pertains to the service”, Dyegh affirmed.
Sergius Ogun (PDP, Edo) supported the Bill as according to him, the proposal will help in addressing the energy and resources being channelled to retain power at all costs by elected representatives, which he said sometimes begin immediately after the elections.
However, Gagdi Yusuf (APC, Plateau), opposed the Bill as he said bringing the Bill at this time will add to the already existing apprehension about 2023 which he said will portray the 9th Assembly as planning to make laws that will extend their tenure.
Gagdi argued that the present four years term for President and Governors should be retained warning that tampering with the present arrangement will have negative consequences.
Also, Haruna Dederi (APC, Kano) opposed the Bill hence, bringing the Bill will heighten the speculations that, the 9th assembly is planning with the executive to extend the tenure of the president and governors.
On his part, Acting House Leader, Peter Akpatason said, the President had made it clear that, he is not interested in any tenure elongation and will not condone or support any move in that regard.
The sponsor of the Bill emphasised that he was not advocating for tenure elongation for the President or anybody as the Bill was for the 2023 general election to help reduce the desperation involved in the four-year periodic elections and its attendant losses.
