The House of Representatives on Thursday dismissed reports circulating online that an executive bill seeking to rename Nigeria as the “United States of Nigeria” is before the National Assembly.
In recent days, social media platforms have claimed that President Bola Tinubu submitted a proposal to lawmakers to change the country’s name and abolish Shariah criminal law in northern Nigeria. The House has firmly denied the existence of such legislation.
Speaking to journalists during the presentation of prioritised constitutional amendment bills, House spokesperson and member of the Constitutional Review Committee, Akin Rotimi, categorically refuted the reports.
“I can confirm that there is no such executive bill before the House. None whatsoever,” Rotimi said.
He explained that what is currently before parliament is a set of 44 harmonised constitutional alteration proposals jointly prepared with the Senate, led by Senator Jibrin Barau, as part of the ongoing constitutional review process.
Rotimi also addressed speculation about a recent meeting between First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and lawmakers at the Presidential Villa, clarifying that the engagement focused solely on the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, which the First Lady strongly supports.
“Nothing about changing the country’s name was mentioned,” he stressed.
The lawmaker further disclosed that the Constitutional Review Committee initially received more than 350 amendment proposals, which were streamlined to slightly over 40 bills to ensure efficiency and focus.
(Ripples Nigeria)
