National Telescope national telescope newspaper
The House of Representatives has taken a bold step towards reducing corruption and promoting accountability by passing for second reading a constitutional amendment bill aimed at removing the immunity currently granted to the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies.
The bill, which seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) and has been introduced as part of efforts to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and increase accountability in public office.
The proposed bill 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 and remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies, in order to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and enhance accountability in public office.”
Under Section 308 of the current constitution, the President, Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies are granted immunity, protecting them from criminal and civil prosecution while in office.
If this amendment passes, it would strip these political leaders of that legal protection, subjecting them to accountability for their actions while serving in office.
In addition to this landmark amendment, the House also passed for second reading another bill seeking to create a constitutional role for traditional rulers in Nigeria.
This bill aims to recognise their advisory role in the Constitution, ensuring their influence in governance is officially acknowledged.
The two bills are part of a broader package of 42 proposed amendments that cover devolution of power, strengthening institutions, state creation, recognition of traditional rulers’ citizenship, protection of fundamental rights, and local government reforms.
The House also moved forward with a bill aimed at improving local government autonomy in Nigeria. Another bill, also passed for second reading, seeks to remove the recognition and federal funding of local governments as a constitutional tier of government.
This bill, also sponsored by Solomon Bob, proposes that the creation and funding of local governments be vested in the individual states rather than the federal government.
Additionally, the House is looking to amend the constitution to enhance the framework for local government administration.
This would establish a more robust legal regime to improve administrative efficiency, promote transparency and accountability, and deepen democratic practices at the local government level.
On the issue of state creation, the House considered a bill for the creation of Etiti State, which would be carved out from the five southeastern states.
The bill, sponsored by Amobi Ogah and four other lawmakers, was passed for second reading. Another similar bill on the same subject, introduced by Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi, was also read and passed for second reading earlier in the week.
These developments signal the House’s continued push for significant constitutional reforms aimed at improving governance, accountability, and administrative efficiency across Nigeria.
