Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of Osun State and ex-Minister of Interior, has voiced strong support for Nigeria to abandon its current presidential system in favor of a parliamentary model. Speaking at the National Dialogue on Home-Grown Parliamentary System in Abuja on Monday, Aregbesola argued that Nigeria’s needs are better served by the parliamentary system, which he believes is more compatible with the country’s socio-political structure.
Aregbesola criticized the presidential system’s heavy reliance on a singular executive figure, suggesting that this structure hinders effective governance for Nigeria’s large population. “If you go on believing that an individual...could have the capacity to govern 120 million people all alone without checks, we are joking,” he stated. Aregbesola emphasized that a collective governing approach, as guaranteed by a parliamentary system, would be more effective in advancing the interests of Nigeria’s diverse population.
This perspective aligns with a bill proposed in February 2024 by a coalition of around 60 House of Representatives lawmakers, led by House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda. The bill, titled The Bills Proposing Constitutional Alterations For a Transition To Parliamentary System of Government, aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to facilitate the transition. Advocates, including Parliamentary Bill Sponsors’ spokesman Abdussamad Dasuki, argue that the parliamentary system would address the inefficiencies and high costs associated with the presidential model, which has often been critiqued for limiting Nigeria’s full potential despite multiple constitutional amendments.
The movement reflects growing dissatisfaction among political figures across party lines, who see the parliamentary system as a path to more inclusive and efficient governance.
