A bill to address chaotic handing over and hostile taking over after elections in Nigeria has been proposed by the National Assembly.
The Presidential Bill will make room for smooth and orderly transfer of Power from one government to another.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara said the bill, when passed into law would ensure accountability and transparency in the system, and help to minimise disruptions that might be occasioned by the transition.
“This Bill seeks to make provision for the smooth and orderly transfer of power from one government to another. It provides that where at any general election for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, the incumbent President is not re-elected, the President shall within 2 weeks of the declaration of the President-Elect as the winner of the election, provide space for not more than ten persons designated by the President-elect to begin a review and analysis of the budgetary expenditures during the tenure of the current president, review all other necessary documents as may be requested by the President-elect transition team and to acquire a working knowledge of the various offices, departments, commissions, boards and other agencies of the executive arm of the Nigerian Government with a view to promoting the orderly transition of executive power when government changes hands,” the speaker explained.
Making reference to the practice in other climes, the Speaker further said, “In the United States of America, the Presidential Transition Act (PTA) of 1963, as amended, established formal mechanisms to facilitate presidential transitions and authorises the Administrator of General Services to provide facilities and services to eligible presidential candidates and the President- elect.”
The purpose of the Bill is to promote the orderly transfer of executive power to assure continuity in the conduct of government’s affairs both domestic and foreign.
Confidence Okwuchi
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