The House of Representatives has reversed its earlier decision regarding the second reading of a bill aimed at eliminating the immunity granted to the vice president, state governors, and their deputies. This legislation was proposed to address corruption, eliminate impunity, and improve accountability within public office.
The House’s decision to rescind the second reading was made to allow for further debate on specific provisions of the bill. On Wednesday, forty-two constitutional amendment bills, including the one concerning the removal of immunity for the vice president, governors, and their deputies, successfully passed their second reading in the House.
In a related development, a bill proposing amendments to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to establish the office of the Prime Minister as the head of government and the office of the President as the head of state, along with a framework for the election of these positions, passed its second reading in the House on Thursday. This bill was part of a total of thirty-two constitutional amendment bills that advanced during that session.
Additionally, there is a bill aimed at amending the Constitution to ensure designated seats for women in both the national assembly and state houses of assembly. Another proposed amendment seeks to shorten the duration for resolving pre-election petition matters and to establish pre-election tribunals to oversee these issues, as well as to regulate the suspension process for members of the national assembly from their legislative responsibilities.
