The House of Representatives has passed a bill for second reading to create the office of the Prime Minister, making the Prime Minister the head of government while the President remains the head of state. This move comes at a time when Nigerians are battling an economic crisis, with inflation skyrocketing and the cost of living becoming unbearable.
Reps Push for Prime Minister Position Despite Economic Hardship
Among the 32 constitutional amendment bills debated on Thursday, the bill to create the Prime Minister position stood out. Lawmakers also discussed proposals for:
- Specific seats for women in the National Assembly and state houses of assembly.
- Reducing delays in pre-election petitions by establishing pre-election tribunals.
- Reviewing qualifications for presidential, vice-presidential, gubernatorial, and deputy gubernatorial candidates.
- Determining the Federal Capital Territory’s role in presidential elections.
- Creating Wan State and Gobir State.
Despite the numerous challenges facing the country, lawmakers seem more focused on constitutional amendments than on fixing the economy.
How Does a Prime Minister Help Nigerians Struggling to Survive?
With the economic crisis deepening, many Nigerians are questioning the relevance of creating a Prime Minister position. Prices of essential goods keep rising, salaries remain stagnant, and people are barely surviving. Yet, rather than addressing inflation and unemployment, lawmakers are prioritizing a power restructure that does nothing to fix the real problems.
As it stands, 113 constitutional amendment bills have passed second reading. The big question remains—how does creating a Prime Minister help struggling Nigerians?