The National Association of Nigerian Students, or NANS, has opposed the law, calling it “anti-democracy and an attempt to stifle people’s choice,” and is pushing for a single six-year term for the President and state governors.
Under the banner of Reformed-minded Legislators, 35 members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill on Monday that would have limited presidential and state governor terms to one six-year term each.
Additionally, the parliamentarians are advocating for the rotation of the presidency among the nation’s six geopolitical zones, claiming that if this idea were to be put into practice, it would lower the expense of government.
NANS, however, urged Nigerians, pro-democracy organisations, organised labour, and trade unions to campaign against the bill during a news conference on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
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Yekini Adewale, National Clerk of the Senate of NANS, called the bill “a smokescreen” designed to deflect attention away from the suffering and economic hardships that Nigerians are currently going through.
The student body issued a threat to organise anti-bill protests involving students nationwide.
Adewale claims that if the measure becomes law, political leaders’ integrity, accountability, openness, and responsibility would be undermined
“Yes, democracy depends on the three arms of government working together harmoniously, but it is depressing and should never be tolerated when a crucial arm, the legislature, introduces legislation or perhaps passes laws that restrict people’s freedom of choice or undermine democratic principles.
In addition to denouncing the proposed bills, NANS, a non-governmental organisation and the only pressure group fighting to prevent the truncation of our hard-won democracy, calls on Nigerians to oppose actions taken by some dishonest politicians that are intended to further their own self-interest.
In the event that the proposed bills become law, our democracy will be seriously threatened. When a president or governor understands they are not eligible to run for reelection, they may choose to occupy themselves with nose-featuring rather than providing the people with effective government.
“Removing the second term from our constitution is the same as taking away the electorate’s exclusive ability to remove any governor or president who is not performing to their standards.
As the nation’s student body, we will mobilise a sizable number of members to oppose these bills in an effort to remove responsibility, accountability, probity, and transparency from the elected officials and legislators.
“A day will be set aside for Nigerian students to embark on a mass march against the National Assembly, further demonstrating our rejection of these anti-democracy, anti-people, and anti-progress bills,” Adewale stated.
