A member of House of Representatives Mr Kinsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers),
says adopting parliamentary system will help reduce corruption and address
frictions among different arms of government in Nigeria.
Chinda, who led 71 other lawmakers to sponsor a
bill aimed at reverting the county to parliamentary system at the House in
December 2018, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the idea was out of the need to curb frictions and ensure synergy among
arms of government. According to him, “if you ask some legislators of some
government policies, it is difficult for them to clearly understand because the
interface between the executive and the legislature is not as it should be.
“The parliamentary system will ensure that the
Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are on the same page. “The system will
iron out all these things; that is why we have thrown it up for Nigerians to
look at, discuss and see that it will help us in proffering solutions to some
of the problems of our country,’’ he said. Chinda added that there was need to
try something else away from the presidential system as the cost of governance
was too high for the country. The lawmaker said in the process of introducing
the bill, the sponsors considered the idea of a unicameral legislature as
against bicameral currently being practised. He said he was in support of a
unicameral legislature as it would further cut cost. Chinda said the sponsors
were not condemning the presidential system neither were they praising
parliamentary system but were looking for a system that best suits Nigeria,
given its dynamic nature. He recalled that Nigeria practised parliamentary
system in the past where power was devolved, leading to healthy competition
among regions and resulting in great progress.
“What we have proposed in that
bill is that the exclusive list should be pruned down and so issues of
devolution of power is taken care of and I can assure you that you will see
healthy competition and this country will grow for all of us. “I am from
Rivers, why can I not go to Sokoto to do my business there when I see myself as
a Nigerian. “It is because of the constitution and the laws that we have; you
fill forms and you have to indicate your tribe. “We should begin to remove that
mentality and begin to think of Nigeria first,” he said. He said the parliamentary
system would help to check the issues of corruption as ministers would be part
of the parliament and they would be accountable. The lawmaker said the refusal
of President Muhammdu Buhari to assent to the amended Electoral Amendment bill
for the fourth time was another reason Nigeria should revert to the
parliamentary system. Imo Assembly appeals judgment on suspension of lawmakers
He explained that the amendment was made to move the electoral process forward
but it was left by the president for almost a year before finally declining
assent on the ground that it was too close to election. “I am of the view that
we should override the president and I have also spoken to some members about
it,” he said.
