JUST IN: House of Reps Rescinds Decision on Bill to Remove Immunity for VP, Governors  

The Nigerian House of Representatives has reversed its decision to advance a bill that sought to strip the Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors of their immunity under Section 308 of the Constitution. The move came just a day after the bill passed a second reading and was referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review.

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,” is sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers). It aimed to remove immunity protections to promote greater accountability among public officials.

Additionally, the House also rescinded its decision on another constitutional amendment bill that sought to review penalties for certain capital offences in line with international best practices. This bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Review the Penalties for Certain Capital Offences in Alignment with Relevant International Best Practices,”* is sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu and six others.

Presiding over the plenary, Kalu explained that the decision to withdraw both bills from further legislative progress was necessary to allow for deeper debate and consideration. Given the sensitivity of the issues involved, he assured that they would be brought back for further discussion at a later time.