Reps Move to End Immunity for Vice President, Governors in Anti-Corruption Drive

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed for second reading a constitutional amendment bill seeking to remove the immunity granted to the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies.

According to the bill’s sponsor, Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), the move aims to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and enhance accountability in public office.

The proposed amendment, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,” seeks to qualify the immunity of the President while completely removing the immunity of the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies.

Currently, Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution grants immunity to these officeholders, shielding them from criminal and civil prosecution while in office.

Other Key Constitutional Amendments

The House also passed a bill seeking to create a constitutional role for traditional rulers by officially recognizing their advisory function.

These bills are part of a broader set of 42 constitutional amendment proposals focused on devolution of power, institution strengthening, state creation, traditional rulers’ roles, citizenship rights, and local government administration.

On Tuesday, the House approved 39 constitutional alteration bills for second reading, including one seeking to enhance local government autonomy and another proposing to remove local governments as a federally funded tier of government, instead placing their creation and funding under state governments.

Push for Etiti State Creation

Meanwhile, the House considered a bill for the creation of Etiti State from the five Southeastern states. The bill, sponsored by Amobi Ogah and four others, was initially introduced on July 11, 2025. A second bill on the same issue, sponsored by Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi, also passed its second reading on Tuesday.