National Assembly disowns ‘bill seeking return of Nigeria to regional government’

The National Assembly has disowned a purported bill seeking to return Nigeria to a regional system of government. 

Many newspapers, on Friday, reported that there are plans to return to the regional government in Nigeria and the bill is expected to be passed into law before October 1, 2024.

Part of the draft bill circulating on social media, is titled: “A Bill for an Act to Substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

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Nigeria practised the regional system of government after it gained independence in 1960. In 1979, after military rule, Nigeria adopted the presidential system of government and has maintained it to date.

Meanwhile, the national assembly, in an interview with TheCable distanced itself from the bill. Yemi Adaramodu, the senate’s spokesperson, said there is no such bill before the national assembly.

“Such a bill is not with us. And who is sponsoring the bill? The National Assembly plenary is always held openly with the media in the chambers,” Adaramodu told TheCable.

“In which order has such been reflected?”

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Also, Akin Rotimi, the spokesperson of the house of representatives, also denied the existence of such a bill to ThePunch newspaper. 

“The committees on rules and business and constitution review have confirmed that there is no such bill before them.”