…Move for creation of Prime Minister’s Office
- …’We want to apologise to the sponsors of the bills, but this action is to enable the House to have a further debate considering the importance of the subject matters’ – Deputy Speaker
By Caleb Ishaya, Abuja
House of Representatives has withdrawn a bill seeking to strip the vice-president, governors and deputy governors off immunity.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the bill, sponsored by Honourable Solomon Bob, a Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, lawmaker from Rivers State, has passed a second reading on Wednesday.
Bob, noted that the bill seeks to “promote accountability in public office” by removing the immunity currently granted to the vice president, governors and their deputies in Nigeria.
Besides, he stated said the move is to curb corruption, curb immunity, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office.
The reversal yesterday followed a motion by Majority Leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbere.
Section 308 of the Constitution states that “the president, vice-president, governor, and deputy governor, during the period he/she is holding the office, shall not be subjected to civil or criminal proceedings.
“The occupants of the office shall not also be arrested or imprisoned and no process of any court requiring or compelling their appearance.”
The House of Representatives withdrew their decision, citing the need for further debate.
In this vein, Deputy Speaker, Honourable Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session said the decision on the bill is to enable the House to conduct a more robust debate.
“We want to apologise to the sponsors of the bills, but this action is to enable the House to have a further debate considering the importance of the subject matters_ Kalu said.
In another development a nill to create the Office of the Prime Minister as head of government and the Office of President as head of state yesterday passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
According to the lawmakers, the bill, if passed into law, will provide a framework for the mode of election to the said offices.
The bill was among 32 constitution amendment bills that scaled second reading in the House yesterday.
Also among the bills is a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for specific seats for women in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.
Another is a bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to reduce the period for determination of pre-election petition matters and provide for the establishment of pre-election tribunals for pre-election matters and regulate the process of suspending a member of the National Assembly from legislative duties.
A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to review the requirements that qualifies persons to be elected as president and vice president, governors and deputy governors, passed second reading as well.
Also, a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to review the status of the Federal Capital Territory as regards the election of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and bills for the creation of Wan State and Gobir State, equally passed second reading.
About 113 Constitution amendment bills have so far passed second reading.
