The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review is deliberating on a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to cap the number of ministers appointed by the president to 37.
Titled “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 proposed legislation aims to address concerns over governance costs and efficiency.
The bill is currently before the committee chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
Sponsored by Mansur Soro and Usman Zannah, lawmakers representing Darazo/Ganjuwa and Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri constituencies of Bauchi and Borno states, the bill proposes an amendment to Section 147(1) of the Constitution to limit ministerial appointments to 37 — one for each state and the Federal Capital Territory.
Currently, President Bola Tinubu’s Federal Executive Council includes 45 ministers, some of whom serve as Ministers of State.
The existing practice allows for the president to appoint one minister per state while leaving room for additional appointments based on other considerations.
According to the PUNCH, Mansur Soro explained the motivation behind the bill.
“The aim is to specify a maximum number of ministers to reduce the cost of governance, address inequality in ministerial appointments, and eliminate overlapping mandates among ministers. One minister per state, including the FCT, is sufficient,” he said.
Soro also criticized the practice of appointing multiple ministers from certain states, describing it as unfair.
“The president has several government agencies and parastatals to accommodate technocrats or politicians. For instance, Ogun State currently has four ministers, while some states only have one. Is that equitable?” he queried.
In addition to this bill, the Kalu-led committee is reviewing another proposal to amend Section 62 of the Constitution.
This amendment seeks to ensure the federal character principle is observed in the appointment of principal officers of the National Assembly.
The bills reflect ongoing debates over Nigeria’s governance structure, with lawmakers aiming to address inefficiencies, reduce costs, and ensure fair representation in government appointments.
The proposed amendments, if passed, could significantly reshape the structure of the Federal Executive Council and other government institutions.
