The House of Representatives has reversed its earlier decision to advance a bill that would strip the Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors of constitutional immunity.
The abrupt U-turn came on Thursday after Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere moved a motion to rescind the decision, effectively halting further progress on the proposed legislation.
The bill, sponsored by Rivers lawmaker Solomon Bob, had initially scaled through the second reading during Wednesday’s plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
It aimed to amend Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, removing the immunity clause that shields these top officials from prosecution while in office. The proposal was framed as a move to curb corruption, enhance accountability, and prevent abuse of power.
The bill’s long title explicitly stated its objective: “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.”
Some other notable proposals that scaled the second reading on Wednesday include:
“A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to separate the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Attorney-General of a state from the offices of the Minister of Justice of the Federal Government and Commissioner for Justice of the Government of a state.
“A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to grant citizenship rights to spouses of women from Nigeria, specify the minimum number of youths and women that may be appointed into specific offices.
Other bills include those to create Ijebu State, Ife-Ijesa State, Tiga State, Orlu State, and Etiti State.”
