Constitution amendment: Reps propose single term of six years

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed for First Reading the proposed bill that seeks to provide for a single term of six years for the offices of the President, State Governors and Local Government Area Councils.

It is meant to achieve a reduction in government spending and wastage, efficiency in governance, and national stability and for related matters.

The Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and 50 other lawmakers, sponsored the private member bill.

The proposed bill seeks to alter Sections 7, 135, 137, 180 and 182 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Clause 1 of the bill seeks to amend the Principal Act.

Clause 2 seeks to amend Section 7 of the Principal Act by inserting a new subsection (5) immediately after the extant subsection 4 and before the extant subsection 5 as follows:

“(5) A holder of the office of a Local Government Chairman shall vacate his office at expiration of a period of six years commencing from the date such holder was elected into office.”

Clause 3 of the bill seeks to amend Section 135 subsections (2), (2A) and (3) of the Principal Act by replacing the word four with six as follows:

“(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six (6) years single tenure commencing from the date, when – (a) in the case of a person first elected as President under this Constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office; and

(b) in any other case, the person last elected to that office under this Constitution took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office or would, but for his death, have taken such Oaths.

(2A) in the determination of the six years term, where a re-run election has taken place and the person earlier sworn wins the re-run election, the time spent in the office before the date the election was annulled, shall be taken into account.

(3) If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of six (6) years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time to time; but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.”

Clause 4 of the bill seeks to amend Section 137 of the Principal Act by deleting paragraph (b) and renumbering appropriately.

Clause 5 of the bill seeks to amend Section 180 of the Principal Act is altered by deleting the extant subsections 2 & 3 and replacing it with new subsections 2 & 3 as follows:

“(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Governor shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six (6) years single tenure commencing from the date when — (a) in the case of a person first elected as Governor under this Constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office; and (b) the person last elected to that office took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office or would, but for his death, have taken such oaths.

(3) If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of six years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time to time, but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.”

Clause 5 of the bill seeks to amend Section 182 (1) by deleting paragraph (b) and renumbering appropriately.

Clause 6 provides that: “The Bill may be cited as Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended) (Alteration) Bill 2024.”