The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday supported several constitutional amendments which could weaken the power of the presidency and strengthen the legislature.

Key adjustments passed by the upper house include, the provision of certain legal immunity to members of the legislature, reduction of the president's ability to withhold assent for a bill passed by the parliament and the removal of law-making powers from the executive. Others include, enforcing time limits on major presidential decisions like nominating ministers and proposing federal budgets and also reduce the minimum age requirements for presidents, governors and members of the Senate and House of Representatives. The age limit for presidents and senators would be reduced from 40 to 35 years, State governors from 35 to 30 while for members of the House of Representatives from 30 to 25 years.

“What we have done today definitely is to lay the foundation for a far-reaching reform of our political, economic and social development,” Bukola Saraki (photo), the President of the Senate said.

While for Saraki, these amendments would help boost Nigeria's development, government officials and analysts see the as a very unhealthy power grab. “The executive sees this development as very unhealthy because laws should be made for the overall interest of the nation and not some people or an arm of government wanting to aggregate more powers to themselves,” a government official said.

“The amendments do raise the profile of the Senate and their passage at this particular moment, with the president outside the country, although not law without his approval, will be interpreted by some in the political establishment as a bid by the Senate leadership to dilute the executive's authority,” Analyst Antony Goldman of Nigeria-focused PM Consulting added.

The amendment is still subject to the approval by the lower house, two thirds of Nigeria's 36 regional state parliaments and afterwards by the president. If approved, this would be the second time the 1999 constitution is being amended. The first was in 2011, under former president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Anita Fatunji