“Reps Move to End Immunity for Vice President, Governors, and Deputies in New Constitutional Amendment”
By Springnewsng Media Limited – March 27, 2025
http://Vice President, state governorsAbuja – The House of Representatives has taken a significant step toward constitutional reform by advancing a bill that seeks to limit the immunityhttp://immunity enjoyed by certain public officials. The proposed legislation, which passed its second reading yesterday, aims to retain immunity for the President while stripping it from the Vice President, state governors, and their deputies.
The bill, sponsored by Rivers State lawmaker Solomon Bob, is designed to amend Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to curb abuses of power and enhance accountability in governance. It was one of 42 bills considered during a plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu in Abuja.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The proposed amendments focus on revising Section 308, which currently grants blanket immunity to the President, Vice President, governors, and deputy governors while in office. The bill seeks to:
- Restrict immunity to only the President and the Vice President when acting as President under Section 145 of the Constitution.
- Introduce a new subsection (4) to make the immunity clause inapplicable in cases where the officeholder is:
- Acting in an unofficial capacity.
- Engaging in actions beyond the legal scope of their office.
- Involved in criminal activities.
According to Bob, the bill is a crucial step toward eradicating impunity, curbing corruption, and promoting transparency in governance. “Public officials should be accountable for their actions both in and out of office,” he said.
If passed, the bill will be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Act 2024. The National Assembly is expected to further deliberate on the bill in the coming weeks.
