A rising chorus of political commentators and analysts are calling for constitutional term limits for members of Nigeria’s National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, arguing that the absence of such restrictions has entrenched complacency, inefficiency, and political stagnation in the country’s legislative system.
Experts say the lack of term limits has allowed some lawmakers to remain in office for decades, consolidating power and treating their seats as personal estates rather than instruments of democratic service. Critics argue this has created a culture of entitlement and blocked opportunities for younger, reform-minded Nigerians to contribute to governance.
“Without a cap on how long legislators can serve, many of them have become disconnected from their constituents,” said Professor Kamilu Sani Fagge, a political science scholar at Bayero University, Kano. “They’re no longer motivated by service, but by power retention.”
Fagge noted that while long-term experience in the legislature could offer procedural mastery, it also poses a major threat to democracy when legislators become unaccountable. “Some of them have been in office for over two decades. That’s not a democracy — that’s a political monarchy in disguise,” he warned.
He further argued that the lack of term limits hampers innovation and stifles youth inclusion in politics. “Younger Nigerians with fresh ideas are systematically shut out. Term limits would open the door for a new wave of leadership,” Fagge added.
Yusuf Ibrahim Lajawa, a former two-term member of the Kano State House of Assembly, echoed this sentiment. Speaking to DAILY POST, he criticized the current system where lawmakers can remain in office indefinitely, likening the situation to “political inheritance.”
“Many of them now see their positions as birthrights. While executives like governors and presidents have term limits, legislators don’t — and that’s a serious loophole in our constitution,” Lajawa said.
He advocated for a two-term limit for legislators, similar to that of the executive arm. However, he acknowledged the political difficulty in passing such a constitutional amendment, since lawmakers would have to vote to restrict their own time in office.
“Let’s be honest — how many of them will willingly support a bill that could end their political careers? Reaching the required two-thirds majority is almost impossible,” Lajawa noted.
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, some lawmakers have retained their seats for up to 26 years, often winning re-election amid allegations of electoral manipulation and voter suppression. Analysts say this has weakened legislative productivity and undermined public trust in the institution.
Political observers argue that term limits would not only enhance accountability but also promote meritocracy and public confidence in the democratic process.
They point to other democracies where voters have genuine power to replace underperforming legislators — a dynamic that is still elusive in Nigeria due to flawed electoral practices.
Despite the challenges, many Nigerians remain hopeful. “The journey to legislative reform may be slow, but public awareness is growing,” said Amina Idris, a civic rights advocate in Abuja. “Sooner or later, we will have a people-driven assembly — one that listens, evolves, and makes room for the next generation.”
As the debate continues, calls for a legislature that truly reflects the will of the people — not the entrenchment of political dynasties — grow louder.
Source: daily trust