House of Reps Advances 42 Constitutional Amendment Bills, Targets Immunity Removal and State Creation

The House of Representatives on Wednesday advanced 42 constitutional amendment bills to the second reading, marking another milestone in the ongoing constitutional review process. Among the notable proposals is a bill seeking to remove the immunity currently enjoyed by the vice president, governors, and their deputies to enhance accountability, curb corruption, and eradicate impunity in public office.

This development follows the passage of 39 constitutional amendment bills through second reading on Tuesday, bringing the total to 81 within two days.

Some of the key proposals that scaled second reading include:

• Amendment to the 1999 Constitution to qualify the immunity conferred on the president while completely removing it for the vice president, governors, and their deputies.

• Separation of powers between the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as between state Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice, to ensure greater independence in legal and judicial matters.

• Citizenship rights expansion, allowing foreign spouses of Nigerian women to acquire citizenship—similar to the rights already granted to spouses of Nigerian men.

• Inclusion quotas to mandate a minimum number of youths and women in government appointments.

Additionally, several bills propose the creation of new states, including Ijebu State, Ife-Ijesa State, Tiga State, Orlu State, and Etiti State.

Despite the significance of these proposed amendments, the bills were not debated before proceeding to the next stage. If passed into law, these amendments could bring significant reforms to Nigeria’s governance structure, justice system, and political representation.

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