The lawmaker epresenting Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Orji Uzor Kalu, has suggested that the National Assembly and state legislatures should operate on a part-time basis to reduce financial burdens on the government.
The former Abia state governor, in an interview with journalists, proposed a constitutional amendment to enable lawmakers to sit for only three months, with four sessions per year, and emergency sittings when necessary.
He argued that this move would help streamline government expenses and promote trust among Nigerians.
He noted that lawmakers’ salaries are modest and do not justify the current full-time arrangement. He emphasized that this change could be part of a broader strategy to improve government efficiency.
The senator’s proposal aligns with recent calls for a part-time legislature, aiming to reduce costs and enhance effectiveness.
Kalu’s advocacy for a constitutional amendment may spark further debate and consideration among his colleagues and the Nigerian public.
He said: “Well, I think it would be a good idea for my colleagues to agree and amend the constitution first. In three months, we sit two to three weeks making it four times in year.
“If there’s any emergency, there would be an emergency sitting. We can come in and do a presidential bid on that basis and go back, instead of meeting on a full-time basis. It shouldn’t be the senate alone, both the House of Representatives and the Houses of Assembly in Nigeria. So, all the legislative branches in Nigeria should be part-time as austerity measures to reduce cost of governance or we should go back to regional government. If we’re going for regional government, it means the ministers and the lawmakers would be the same.
“I have been thinking on how we can save money to run Nigeria. Nigeria needs money. I will encourage the president, the National Assembly to make this law. It will help President Tinubu and the system — including everybody. Not that the senators earn a lot, we’re paid almost nothing in the Senate. I laugh when because our pay is nothing to write home about. But I want my colleagues to do a quick constitutional amendment have a part-time senate, house of representatives and state houses of assembly to earn the trust of Nigerians.”
