Nigeria's president is proposing a constitutional amendment to limit presidents and state governors to a single, longer term.

President Goodluck Jonathan announced his plan Tuesday, saying he hopes it will allow politicians to focus less on getting re-elected. The president said it also would save money to hold elections less frequently.

His statement did not specify how long the new terms would be. Under existing law, each term lasts four years, and there is a two-term limit.

Mr. Jonathan also is proposing extending the term length for national and regional legislators, but he said they still would be allowed to run for re-election.

If approved, the new amendment would not take effect until 2015, after Mr. Jonathan's current term.

Mr. Jonathan came to power last year following the death of the former leader, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and then he won re-election in the April presidential vote.

The vote, deemed by most international and domestic observers to be Nigeria's fairest ever, was nevertheless followed by rioting and sectarian violence when Mr. Jonathan's victory was announced.

New York-based Human Right Watch says that about 800 people were killed in the violence.