By Chukwudi Obasi, Abuja
Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment bill for a second reading, seeking to remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies.
The lawmakers said the move was to curb corruption, curb immunity, eradicate impunity, and enhance 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, to curb corruption, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office and for Related Matters.”
*Section 308 to give ‘qualified privileges’ only to President
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 a constitutional amendment bill for a second reading that would create a constitutional role for traditional rulers and recognise their advisory role in the Constitution.
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 provide stronger measures and checks to maintain the autonomy of the country’s local government system, it also passed another constitutional alteration bill for a second reading to remove local government as a tier of government constitutionally recognised and funded by the Federal Government.
The second bill, sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), seeks to vest the creation and funding of local government in the states.
The House is also seeking to amend the Constitution to review the framework for local government administration and establish a robust legal regime to strengthen administrative efficiency, promote transparency and accountability, and deepen democratic practice in the local government.
On state creation, it was observed that a bill for the creation of Etiti State from the five South-East states was again read for the second time even though a similar bill was passed for the first reading.
The bill for the creation of Etiti state, sponsored by Amobi Ogah and four others, was passed for first reading on July 11, 2025. A second bill on the same subject matter, sponsored by Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi, was listed and passed for a second reading on Tuesday.
