The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has called for the scrapping of Nigeria’s current bicameral National Assembly, describing it as inefficient, wasteful, and riddled with internal conflicts.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday and signed by its Executive Director, Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, CHRICED said the recent standoff between the Senate and the House of Representatives underscores a legislative system in urgent need of reform.
The House of Representatives had earlier announced its decision to halt all consideration of Senate-sponsored bills, citing the Senate’s failure to act on 146 bills already passed by the lower chamber. CHRICED condemned the impasse, describing it as “a grave dereliction of legislative responsibility”, particularly at a time when Nigeria is facing major socio-economic and security challenges.
“It is particularly troubling that both chambers routinely expedite executive-sponsored bills with minimal scrutiny, while bills from citizens and civil society groups languish without action,” the group said.
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CHRICED listed key people-centred bills that have suffered years of neglect, including the Employee Remuneration Protection and Unpaid Wages Bill, the Gender Representation Bill, the Whistleblower Protection Bill, and the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions Prohibition Bill.
“These are critical legislative proposals that directly affect ordinary Nigerians. Yet, they remain sidelined, while lawmakers prioritise constituency projects and personal benefits,” the statement added.
To address the persistent dysfunction, CHRICED renewed its call for Nigeria to adopt a unicameral legislature — a single-chamber lawmaking body which it says would reduce the cost of governance, eliminate inter-chamber rivalry, and enhance legislative efficiency.
“In light of these developments, CHRICED reiterates its longstanding call for a transition to a unicameral legislature. The current system of 469 federal lawmakers is not only bloated but prone to gridlock and waste,” Zikirullahi stated.
He noted that over 100 countries, including Ghana, Finland, and Zambia, operate effectively with unicameral legislatures and urged Nigeria to follow suit. CHRICED also called for the issue to be prioritised at the upcoming National Constitution Summit scheduled for July 2025.
In the meantime, the organisation called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to end the standoff and refocus attention on bills that matter to citizens.
“If they cannot provide responsible leadership and prioritise people-oriented legislation, they must consider stepping aside in the interest of national progress and democratic integrity,” the statement concluded.
CHRICED further encouraged Nigerians to hold their representatives accountable through civic engagement, advocacy, and the ballot box, warning that failure to act will only perpetuate poor governance and public disillusionment.
