Nigeria’s National Assembly has come under fire from the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), which is calling for a complete overhaul of the current two-chamber system. According to CHRICED, the system is too costly, slow, and plagued by internal conflicts. This condemnation comes on the heels of a serious disagreement between the Senate and House of Representatives, with the House of Representatives recently announcing that it would stop working on all Senate-sponsored bills due to the Senate’s failure to act on 146 bills passed by the lower chamber.
CHRICED’s Executive Director, Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, expressed grave concern over the legislative body’s dereliction of duty, particularly in light of the country’s numerous challenges. “It is particularly troubling that while both chambers routinely expedite executive-sponsored bills often with minimal scrutiny, they consistently neglect bills initiated by citizens and civil society organizations,” Zikirullahi noted. The neglected bills include critical pieces of legislation such as the Employee Remuneration Protection and Unpaid Wages Bill, the Gender Representation Bill, and the Whistleblower Protection Bill, which have languished for years without meaningful progress.
The group also criticized lawmakers for prioritizing constituency projects and enjoying hefty salaries and allowances while failing to work together on important national issues. To address this problem, CHRICED has reiterated its call for Nigeria to adopt a unicameral legislature, a single-chamber lawmaking body that would reduce costs, avoid conflicts, and improve accountability. Zikirullahi argued that a unicameral system would eliminate inter-chamber rivalry, streamline lawmaking, and bring governance closer to the people.
CHRICED pointed out that over 100 countries, including Finland, Ghana, and Zambia, have successfully implemented a unicameral legislative system. As Nigeria prepares for the July 2025 National Constitution Summit, the group is urging all stakeholders, including civil society, media, and the public, to prioritize the transition to a unicameral legislature. This shift would simplify legislative oversight, improve public engagement, and ensure that the National Assembly serves the interests of the people rather than political expediency.
In the interim, CHRICED is calling on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to immediately de-escalate the current standoff and prioritize the passage of long-delayed, people-oriented legislation. Should they fail to do so, CHRICED believes they must consider stepping aside in the interest of national progress and democratic integrity. The group is also urging Nigerian citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable through sustained civic engagement, public advocacy, and the ballot box. As Zikirullahi emphasized, “If they cannot, they should step aside in the interest of national progress.”
