Bill seeks 6-Year Single Term for President and Governor passed first reading

Thirty-five House of Representatives members have proposed a bill for a six-year single term for Nigeria’s presidents.

Ikenga Ugochinyere announced the decision on Monday during a press conference in Abuja. He was flanked by colleagues who co-sponsored the bill.

He told newsmen that the bill, which seeks to give a single term to the president and governors, has passed its first reading.

The lawmakers said they also considered zonal rotation for the presidency to “ensure equal representation and reduce the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states”.

They proposed several other constitutional amendments bills on governance, restructuring and electoral matters.

The lawmakers also proposed to amend section 3 of the constitution to provide for the recognition of the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.

Amongst the contents of the bill was a proposal to introduce offices of two vice presidents; one from the north and another from the south.

“The first vice-president shall be a succession vice president, while the second vice-president shall be a minister in charge of the economy, and both shall be ministers,” Ugochinyere said.

“The president and the 1st vice-president shall come from the same part of the country (north or south) and shall become president whenever the president becomes incapacitated.”