The House of Representatives has dismissed some online reports that an executive bill seeking to rename Nigeria as the “United States of Nigeria” is currently before the National Assembly for consideration.
Over the past week, social media platforms have been awash with claims that President Bola Tinubu had sent a proposal to lawmakers to alter the country’s name and abolish Shariah criminal law in the northern region. The House firmly stated that no such legislation exists.
Speaking to journalists during the presentation of the first batch of prioritised constitutional amendment bills, House spokesperson and member of the Constitutional Review Committee, Akin Rotimi, categorically refuted the reports.
The Ekiti lawmaker said, “I can confirm that there is no such executive bill before the House. None whatsoever. And that is all I will say on that,” he stated.
Instead, the Ekiti lawmaker noted that what is currently before the parliament is a set of harmonised constitutional alteration proposals jointly prepared with the Senate.
“There are 44 bills that have been jointly harmonised by both chambers. Because we operate a bicameral legislature, we have been working closely with our counterparts in the Senate, led by Senator Jibrin Barau, to ensure alignment,” he said.
Rotimi also addressed speculation surrounding the recent interaction between First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and lawmakers at the Presidential Villa.
According to him, the engagement was focused strictly on the Reserved Seats for Women bill.
“I was at that event. The First Lady spoke extensively about the Reserved Seats Bill, which she is passionate about as a former lawmaker. The Vice President, members of the Federal Executive Council, and other stakeholders were present to discuss that particular bill. Nothing about changing the country’s name was mentioned,” Rotimi stressed.
He further disclosed that the Constitutional Review Committee initially received more than 350 amendment proposals which were later streamlined to ensure efficiency and focus.
“We started with more than 350 bills. At different stages, we reduced them to about 80, then to around 60, and now we have slightly over 40 proposals moving to the next phase,” he said.
