House of Representatives Moves to Strip Vice President, Governors of Immunity

The Nigerian House of Representatives has taken a significant step toward constitutional reform, passing a bill for the second reading that seeks to remove the immunity currently enjoyed by the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies.

The proposed amendment, sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), aims to enhance accountability, curb corruption, and eradicate impunity in public office. The bill, titled *“A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,”* seeks to modify Section 308 of the Constitution, which presently shields the President, Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies from criminal and civil prosecution while in office.

Additionally, the House passed a second constitutional amendment bill that seeks to formally recognize traditional rulers and assign them an advisory role in governance. These bills are part of a broader set of 42 constitutional amendment proposals addressing issues such as power devolution, state creation, traditional leadership, fundamental rights, and local government administration.

On Tuesday, the House had already advanced 39 constitutional amendment bills for the second reading, including one that seeks to strengthen the autonomy of local governments. Another key bill, also sponsored by Solomon Bob, proposes removing local governments as a constitutionally recognized and federally funded tier of government, instead placing their creation and funding under state jurisdiction.

In a related development, lawmakers revisited the proposal for the creation of Etiti State from the existing five Southeastern states. The bill, first introduced on July 11, 2025, by Amobi Ogah and four others, was again read for the second time, alongside a separate but similar bill sponsored by Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi.