The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution review is considering a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to limit the number of ministers appointed by the president to 37.
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution review is considering a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to limit the number of ministers appointed by the president to 37.
Sponsored by the members representing Darazo/Ganjuwa and Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal Constituencies of Bauchi and Borno states, the bill seeks to amend Section 147 (1) of the Constitution to read, “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation, not exceeding 37, as may be established by the President.”
The Federal Executive Council under President Bola Tinubu currently comprises 45 ministers, including substantive ones and Ministers of State.
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For ages, the president appoints a minister from each of the 36 states of the federation and also leaves room for other reasons in the composition of his cabinet.
In an interview with newsmen, the Bauchi lawmaker, Mansur Soro, highlighted the gap the proposed legislation sought to address.
The Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker disagreed on the argument that the president may decide to appoint more than two ministers from a state to accommodate technocrats.
Similarly, the Kalu-led committee is considering a bill seeking to amend Section 62 of the Constitution to allow for the observance of the federal character principle in the composition of the body of principal officers of the National Assembly.