Nigeria’s VP and Governors May Lose Immunity as Bill Passes Second Reading

A proposed amendment to the Nigerian Constitution aimed at revoking the immunity enjoyed by the vice president and state governors has advanced to the next legislative stage. The bill successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, alongside 42 other constitutional amendment proposals.

The legislation seeks to eliminate immunity privileges granted to the vice president, governors, and their deputies to strengthen accountability, curb corruption, and reduce impunity in public office.

Key Constitutional Amendments Under Consideration

This development follows the passage of 39 constitutional amendment bills in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Some of the significant proposals that scaled second reading include:

1. A Bill to Amend the 1999 Constitution – This proposal aims to remove the immunity granted to the vice president, governors, and their deputies while maintaining a qualified immunity for the president. The goal is to ensure that top government officials can be held legally accountable during their tenure.
2. A Bill to Separate the Attorney-General’s Office from the Ministry of Justice – This bill seeks to establish an independent office for the Attorney-General of the Federation and states, separate from the Ministry of Justice, to prevent political interference in legal affairs.
3. A Bill to Grant Citizenship Rights to Spouses of Nigerian Women – This proposed law aims to extend automatic citizenship rights to foreign spouses of Nigerian women, a privilege that is currently granted only to foreign spouses of Nigerian men.
4. State Creation Proposals – The House is also reviewing bills advocating for the creation of new states, including Ijebu State, Ife-Ijesa State, Tiga State, Orlu State, and Etiti State.

With these new additions, the total number of constitutional amendment bills that have successfully passed second reading now stands at 81.

What’s Next for the Bill?

As the constitutional review process continues, these bills will proceed to the committee stage, where lawmakers will deliberate further, suggest modifications, and conduct public hearings before final approvals. If successfully passed, the immunity removal bill could mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s governance structure by enhancing public accountability at the highest levels.

For more details on constitutional amendments in Nigeria, visit the National Assembly of Nigeria.

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