A bill seeking to strip Nigeria’s Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors of their constitutional immunity has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
Sponsored by Rivers State lawmaker Solomon Bob, the bill proposes an amendment to Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, aiming to curb corruption, prevent abuse of office, and enhance transparency in governance.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the bill was one of 42 proposals considered and advanced to the next legislative stage.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The bill, titled:
“A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to qualify the immunity conferred on the President, remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, the Governors, and their deputies, in order to curb corruption, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office, and for related matters,”
seeks to modify legal protections currently shielding these officials from prosecution while in office.
Bob argued that removing immunity for these high-ranking officials would promote accountability and reduce impunity in governance.
The proposal will now proceed to committee review and further legislative scrutiny before moving to the next stage in Nigeria’s law-making process.
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