The House of Representatives said on Thursday it decided to rescind its earlier decision to pass for second reading, a constitutional amendment Bill to strip the Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors of immunity as conferred by section 308 of the Constitution as amended to allow for thorough debate before moving to the next stage.
The House had at plenary rescinded the passage of the bill as well as the to amend the Constitution to review penalty for certain category of offences.
The two bills were passed for second reading on Wednesday and referred to the House Committee bon constitutional review.
The bill striping the Vice President and others of immunity titled “a ill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Qualify the Immunity Conferred on the President, Remove the Immunity Conferred on the Vice President, the Governors and their Deputies, in Order to Curb Corruption, Eradicate Impunity and Enhance Accountability in Public Office is sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers).
Also, the bill on penalty for certain capital offences titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Review the Penalties for Certain Capital Offences in Alignment with Relevant International Best Practices is sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu & 6 others.
The Deputy Speaker, who presided over plenary, said the rescission of the earlier decision to pass them for second reading became necessary in view of the need to subject them to further debate.
Kalu said the bills will be brought back to the House for debate by members in view of the sensitive nature of the issues involved.
Spokesman of the House, Akintunde Rotimi, said the two bills remain an integral part of the constitutional amendment process and has not been discarded by the House.
Rotimi said: “In response to widespread calls for comprehensive constitutional reforms that reflect the aspirations of Nigerians, the House of Representatives remains committed to a thorough review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Recognising the need for a structured and non-politicised process, the 10th Assembly set a December 2025 deadline for concluding the ongoing 6th Alteration to the Constitution, ensuring ample time for due process before the next election cycle.
“As part of this effort, the House has prioritised 120 Constitution Amendment Bills upon resumption of legislative activities this week, fast-tracking their legislative progression, particularly at the Second Reading stage.
“This enables their referral to the House Committee on Constitution Review (HCCR), a multi-partisan body with broad regional, state, and gender representation, responsible for reviewing these proposals before the Zonal Public Hearings for nationwide stakeholder engagement.
“During plenary on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the House passed 42 Constitution Amendment Bills for Second Reading, including:
“A Bill to Amend the Constitution to Qualify the Immunity of the President and Remove the Immunity of the Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors (HB. 1664) – Sponsored by Rep. Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), this bill aims to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and enhance accountability in public office.
“A Bill to Amend the Constitution to Review Penalties for Certain Capital Offences in Line with International Best Practices (HB. 2120) – Sponsored by Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu and six others.
“These bills, along with 40 others, were passed for Second Reading without debate, in accordance with the provisions of the House Standing Orders (Eleventh Edition), and were referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review.
“However, during plenary on Thursday, March 27, 2025, the House resolved to rescind the passage of these two bills and relist them for Second Reading to allow for a more extensive and robust debate on their general principles.
“This decision – reaffirmed by Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CON, who presided over the session – underscores the House’s commitment to diligent and transparent lawmaking, particularly on sensitive legislative matters.
“For the avoidance of doubt, at the First and Second Reading stages, the content of any bill reflects solely the views of its sponsor(s) and not the position of the House or its leadership. The House formally engages with a bill only after it progresses to the committee stage, where public hearings are conducted.
“These bills have not been discarded or removed from consideration. They remain part of the legislative process and will be revisited at a later date.
“The decision to rescind their passage for Second Reading is in line with the House Standing Orders (Eleventh Edition) and is intended solely to allow for thorough debate before further legislative action.
“The 10th Assembly remains resolute in its commitment to Law Reform (Agenda 3) under the Legislative Agenda (2023–2027) of the People’s House”. Nation