Legislators press Tinubu to limit the cabinet to 37 ministers
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review is examining a proposal to amend the 1999 Constitution, aiming to limit the president’s ability to appoint ministers to a maximum of 37.
This proposed change, called the “Bill for an Act to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Streamline the Number of Ministers,” is being reviewed by the committee led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. The bill is sponsored by lawmakers from Bauchi and Borno States.
The amendment seeks to revise Section 147 (1) of the Constitution to state, “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation, not exceeding 37, as may be established by the President.”
Currently, President Bola Tinubu’s Federal Executive Council includes 45 ministers, with both full ministers and Ministers of State. Traditionally, Nigerian presidents appoint one minister from each of the 36 states, with additional appointments based on various considerations.
According to Mansur Soro, a lawmaker from Bauchi, the amendment aims to reduce the number of ministers to eliminate overlapping duties, lower governance costs, and improve efficiency at the federal level. He suggested that one minister per state should be sufficient, including for the Federal Capital Territory.
However, some lawmakers, including a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), disagree. They argue that the president should be allowed to appoint more than two ministers from one state to accommodate technocrats. They also raised concerns about the imbalance, pointing out that Ogun State has four ministers, while most states have only one, questioning the fairness of this setup.
Meanwhile, the committee led by Kalu is also reviewing a proposal to amend Section 62 of the Constitution, which would strengthen the federal character principle in selecting National Assembly officers.
