On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment bill for a second reading, aiming to revoke the immunity granted to the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies.
Lawmakers stated that the initiative seeks to combat corruption, limit immunity, eliminate impunity, and promote accountability in public office.
The constitutional amendment Bill sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) reads: “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 and for Related Matters”.
Section 308 of the constitution confers immunity on the President, Vice President, Governors and their deputies, exempting them from criminal and civil prosecution while in office.
The House also passed for second reading, a constitutional amendment Bill to create a constitutional role for traditional rulers, while providing for the recognition of the advisory role for them in the constitution.
Section 308 of the Constitution grants immunity to the President, Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies, shielding them from criminal and civil prosecution while in office.
Additionally, the House passed a constitutional amendment bill for a second reading, seeking to establish a constitutional role for traditional rulers and formally recognize their advisory functions.
The two bills are part of the 42 on devolution of power, strengthening of institutions, state creation, traditional rulers citizenship, fundamental rights and objectives and local government passed by the House.
On Tuesday, the House passed 39 constitutional alteration bills for second reading.
While passing a bill to strengthen measures for preserving the autonomy of the local government system, the House also advanced a separate constitutional amendment bill for a second reading, aiming to remove local governments as a constitutionally recognized and federally funded tier of government.
The second bill, sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), seeks to transfer the responsibility for creating and funding local governments to the states.
The House is also seeking to amend the constitution to review the framework for local government administration, establish a robust legal legal regime to strengthen administrative efficiency, promote transparency, accountability and deepen democratic practice in the local government.
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On state creation, The Nation observed that a bill for the creation of Etiti State from the five South eastern States was again read for the second time even though similar bill was passed for second reading.
The bill for the creation of Etiti state sponsored by Amobi Ogah and four others was first passed for first reading on the July 11, 2025 while a second bill on the same subject matter sponsored by Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi was listed and passed for second reading on Tuesday.
