The House of Representatives has taken a significant legislative step by advancing a new bill that, if passed, would require both the President of Nigeria and State Governors to assign specific portfolios to their ministerial and commissioner nominees before sending the names to the National Assembly or state assemblies for confirmation. The bill, which recently passed its second reading, aims to establish a more transparent and efficient system for vetting government appointees based on their designated roles.
This proposed legislation reflects the House’s commitment to enhancing governance and accountability. It would enable lawmakers to conduct more in-depth and targeted evaluations of nominees, thereby allowing for a thorough review of each candidate’s qualifications in relation to the position they are intended to fill. Rep. Okechukwu Dibiagwu, who led the debate on the bill, emphasized that this approach would significantly improve the scrutiny process, ensuring nominees are assessed with a clear understanding of their proposed duties and responsibilities. Dibiagwu asserted that "attaching specific portfolios to nominees at the point of submission is a critical step in ensuring that candidates are selected not just on merit, but also based on their suitability for particular roles."
Further explaining the rationale behind the bill, Dibiagwu stated that the measure would facilitate a transparent and merit-based selection process, preventing potential mismatches between nominees’ skills and their respective roles. The House’s intention, as articulated during the session, is to strengthen governance by ensuring that appointees are better equipped for the challenges of their assignments.
Alongside the portfolio assignment bill, the House of Representatives has also advanced a separate bill, which proposes an extension of the retirement age for health workers across Nigeria. This bill also passed its second reading and aims to address the workforce shortages in the healthcare sector by retaining experienced professionals for extended periods. By increasing the retirement age, the proposed law seeks to strengthen the healthcare system, particularly in areas where trained personnel are in limited supply.
The legislative progress on these bills was shared through the official Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on its social media platform, X, on Friday. In its post, NTA updated the public on the House’s recent developments, stating, "The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking mandatory inclusion of portfolios in the nomination list of Ministers and Commissioners by the President or State Governors."
The NTA statement further elaborated on the debate led by Representative Dibiagwu, explaining his position that "attaching portfolios to the list of nominations for ministerial positions will enhance thorough scrutiny of nominees by lawmakers at the national and state assemblies." The announcement also highlighted the House's continued efforts to reform Nigeria’s public service system, including the parallel bill seeking to extend the retirement age for health workers as part of broader healthcare improvements in the
nation.