The House of Representatives has rescinded its earlier passage of a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to remove the immunity granted to the vice president, governors, and deputy governors, while also qualifying the immunity of the president.
The deputy speaker who presided over plenary on Thursday said the decision is aimed at allowing further debate and scrutiny of the controversial amendment, BusinessDay reports.
During Wednesday’s plenary the House passed the proposed legislation, titled “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 and for Related Matters (HB.1664),” was sponsored by Solomon Bob.
The bill is among the 42 Constitution amendment bills that scaled second reading during plenary on Wednesday.
The bill sought to amend Section 308 of the Constitution, which currently grants absolute immunity to the president, vice president, governors, and deputy governors while in office. Under the existing law, these officials cannot be sued or prosecuted for any civil or criminal offence during their tenure.
However, if passed into law, the amendment will qualify the immunity of the president, meaning the president could face legal action under certain conditions while in office.
It also seeks to completely remove immunity for the vice president, governors, and deputy governors, making them liable for prosecution while still serving in office.
