The House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review is currently reviewing a proposal to amend Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution with the aim of limiting the number of ministers a president can appoint to a maximum of 37.
The proposed amendment, 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,” is being examined by the committee, which is chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The bill, which seeks to amend Section 147(1) of the Constitution, is sponsored by lawmakers from Bauchi and Borno States, specifically from the Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi and the Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal Constituency in Borno State. The amendment aims to establish that the President may appoint no more than 37 ministers to the Federal Executive Council.
Currently, President Bola Tinubu’s Federal Executive Council consists of 45 ministers, which includes both substantive ministers and Ministers of State. Traditionally, Nigerian presidents appoint one minister from each of the 36 states, with additional positions allocated based on political and administrative considerations.
In an interview with Newsmen, Mansur Soro, the lawmaker from Bauchi State, emphasized that the amendment is designed to address the duplication of duties among ministers, reduce the cost of governance, and improve efficiency in federal service.
He noted that limiting the number of ministers would also help ensure fairness in appointments, particularly regarding the number of ministers allocated to each state. Soro suggested that a minister from each state, plus consideration for the Federal Capital Territory, would suffice for effective governance.
However, the proposal has faced some opposition, particularly from members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). One lawmaker voiced concerns over the proposal’s restriction on appointing more than two ministers from a single state. He argued that while technocrats could be appointed to ministerial roles, there are other government agencies and parastatals where such appointments could be made, ensuring fair distribution across states. The lawmaker also pointed out the disparity in ministerial appointments, citing Ogun State’s current four ministers while many other states have just one, questioning the equity of such an arrangement.
In addition to this bill, the committee chaired by Kalu is also reviewing an amendment to Section 62 of the Constitution, which seeks to enforce the federal character principle in the selection of principal officers of the National Assembly.
