The House of Representatives on Thursday reversed its earlier decision to pass two key constitutional amendment bills for second reading. These bills aimed to strip the Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors of the immunity granted under Section 308 of the Constitution and to amend penalties for certain capital offenses.
The two bills, which were initially passed for second reading on Wednesday and referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review, were reconsidered after concerns arose regarding their complexity and the sensitive nature of the issues involved.
One of the bills, 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," was sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers). The second bill, titled "A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Review the Penalties for Certain Capital Offences in Alignment with Relevant International Best Practices," was sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and six others.
Deputy Speaker Kalu, who presided over the plenary, explained that the decision to rescind the bills' second reading was prompted by the need for more extensive debate on the topics. He emphasized that the House would revisit both bills for further discussions before making any final decisions.
The move to reconsider the bills reflects the House's commitment to thorough deliberation and ensuring that any amendments to the Constitution address the significant issues they raise.
