Bill to remove immunity enjoyed by VP, governors and their deputies scales second reading

A bill seeking to strip vice presidents, governors and deputy governors of immunity has passed a second reading in the House of Representatives.

 The constitutional amendment bill scaled through a second reading during plenary on Wednesday, March 26.

The bill which is being sponsored by Solomon Bob, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Rivers state, seeks to “promote accountability in public office” by removing the immunity that has been enjoyed by vice-president, governors, and their deputies since the return of democracy to Nigeria.

Some of the notable proposals that scaled the second reading on Wednesday include;

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, governors, and their deputies, to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and enhance accountability in public office.

A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to separate the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Attorney-General of a state from the offices of the Minister of Justice of the Federal Government and Commissioner for Justice of the Government of a state.

A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to grant citizenship rights to spouses of women from Nigeria, specify the minimum number of youths and women that may be appointed into specific offices.

Other bills include those to create Ijebu State, Ife-Ijesa State, Tiga State, Orlu State, and Etiti State.