March 26, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, passed a bill seeking to remove the immunity granted to the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies, moving it one step closer to becoming law.
The proposed amendment targets Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which currently shields the President, Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies from both civil and criminal prosecution while in office.
Sponsor of the bill, Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), said the amendment is aimed at curbing corruption, ending impunity, and ensuring greater accountability among public officials.
“A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to qualify the immunity conferred on the President and remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies, in order to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and enhance accountability in public office,” the bill read in part.
The proposed law is one of 42 constitutional amendment bills that scaled second reading on Wednesday, following the passage of 39 similar bills in the House on Tuesday.
Proponents argue that eliminating immunity for certain officeholders will enhance transparency and ensure that leaders are held accountable for misconduct while in office.
Meanwhile, the House also advanced a bill seeking to create Etiti State from the existing five states in the South-East region.
Sponsored by Amobi Ogah and four others, the bill was first introduced for first reading on July 11, 2025. Another bill on the same subject, sponsored by Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi, was listed and passed for second reading on Tuesday.
If passed into law, the bill will pave the way for the restructuring of Nigeria’s geopolitical map, potentially giving the South-East an additional state.
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