On Monday, thirty-five members of Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber, the House of Representatives, introduced a bill that would limit the terms of the President and state governors to six years each.

The measure also addresses the rotation of the presidency among the country’s six geopolitical zones— the North Central also known as the Middle Belt, the South East, the North East, North West, South West, and the South-South.

The MPs asserted that the plan would reduce government spending under the banner of Reformed-minded Legislators. The group’s spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, further asserted that the action will ensure a seamless transition and unmatched progress for the nation while also uniting the country at a news conference held on Monday at the National Assembly Complex.

As Ugochinyere put it, “We should not be afraid to meet and discuss our problems, challenges, fears, aspirations, and prospects as a people,” he underscored the importance of critically examining the difficulties the Nigerian state faces. We shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it or to talk about it at all.

“On governance, we are proposing a constitutional alteration to provide for the rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones to ensure equal representation and reduce the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states,” Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/Idaeto South Federal Constituency of Imo State on the Peoples Democratic Party platform, said in response to a question about the bill. To recognize Nigeria’s separation into six geopolitical zones, we propose amending Section 3 of the constitution.

“And also, to amend the constitution to provide for a single tenure of six years for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the state governors. This will bring about a reduction in government spending and wastage; promote efficiency in governance, and national stability by providing a single term of six years for the President and the governors.”

Ugochinyere states that the Second Vice President will supervise the economy as a minister and the First Vice President will serve as vice president in succession. “A constitutional amendment to provide that the President and the First Vice President shall come from the same part of the country (North or South) and the First Vice President shall become President whenever the President becomes incapacitated,” he said, adding that the 35 lawmakers were also pushing for this change.

By establishing an independent Consolidated Local Government Council Account that is only overseen by Local Councils, the measure also aims to provide local government councils more financial autonomy and responsibility. For any misappropriation of local government funds, it calls for lengthy prison sentences.

“We are seeking an amendment to Section 162(5) of the 1999 Constitution to provide that where a state government fails to remit to the local government councils within its jurisdiction (or within the state), the amounts standing to the credit of that local government in the allocation from the Federation Account, such state government shall not be entitled to receive a future allocation from the Federal Government,” Ugochinyere added.

Discussion around terms structure around elective political officers is not new in Nigeria, in 2011 An executive bill sponsored by former president Goodluck Jonathan also proposed year terms but the bill did not scale at parliament.