The House of Representatives has advanced a bill seeking to remove the constitutional immunity enjoyed by the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies, passing it for second reading on Wednesday.
The proposed amendment, sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), aims to enhance accountability in governance, curb corruption, and eradicate impunity by making these public officials liable for civil and criminal prosecution while in office.
Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution currently shields the president, vice president, governors, and their deputies from legal proceedings. However, the new bill seeks to alter this provision, maintaining immunity only for the president while removing it for the others.
The House also progressed with another constitutional amendment bill that seeks to recognize and define the advisory role of traditional rulers within the Nigerian Constitution.
These bills are among 42 constitutional amendment proposals addressing power devolution, state creation, local government autonomy, citizenship rights, and fundamental human rights. On Tuesday, lawmakers had already passed 39 similar amendment bills for second reading.
Additionally, the House debated a bill that would restructure local government administration, transferring the responsibility for local government creation and funding from the federal to the state level.
On the issue of state creation, the House revisited a bill proposing the establishment of Etiti State from the five southeastern states. The bill, first introduced by Amobi Ogah and others on July 11, 2025, was reintroduced and passed for second reading, reinforcing ongoing discussions about state restructuring.
With these developments, the House of Representatives continues to push for far-reaching constitutional reforms that could reshape Nigeria’s governance framework.
