House of Representatives Moves to Limit Ministerial Positions to 37

Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution is presently being reviewed by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review in an attempt to restrict the number of ministers that a president may designate to no more than 37.

The committee is looking at the proposed amendment, which is called “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Streamline the Number of Ministers to be Appointed to the Federal Executive Council.”

The amendment’s goal is to limit the number of ministers the president can designate to the Federal Executive Council to 37.

The bill aims to alter Section 147(1) of the Constitution

Lawmakers from the Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi and the Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal Constituency in Borno State are the major sponsors.

There are currently 45 ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s Federal Executive Council, including both substantive and ministers of state.

Nigerian presidents typically select one minister from each of the 36 states, with additional posts being assigned according to administrative and political factors.

The modification is intended to remove the duplication of functions among ministries, lower the cost of governance, and increase efficiency in federal service, according to Mansur Soro, the congressman from Bauchi State.

He pointed out that restricting the number of ministers will also help guarantee equity in selections, especially when it comes to how many ministers are assigned to each state.

According to Soro, good government would only require one minister from each state, plus consideration for the Federal Capital Territory.