By Abiola Olawale
A bill seeking to remove the immunity enjoyed by Nigeria’s Vice President, governors, and their deputies has successfully scaled its second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill was part of the forty-two constitutional amendment bills which scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Sponsored by Solomon Bob, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Rivers State, the bill is said to be aimed at amending the 1999 Constitution to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and ensure greater transparency among top public officials.
Bob had argued that the bill to strip immunity from these officials is an attempt to hold leaders accountable for their actions while in office, and to address cases of misuse of power.
Some other 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 a7 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.
The bills were not debated and brought the total so far passed through second reading to 81.
