-Votes Down Immunity Clause for President, Governors
-Votes to Approve Local Government Autonomy from State
AGITATIONS over the contentious issue of immunity
clause in the Nigerian constitution appears to have come to an end, as the Nigerian House of Representatives on Wednesday voted en-masse to remove it from the statutes of the federal republic.
Also in the landmark vote on the ongoing constitutional amendment process, the representatives also voted in large majority to approve independent candidacy in future elections in Nigeria, with 313 voting for, 8 voting against and 12 abstaining. The approval means that a contestant for political office in Nigeria is not under obligation to seek affiliation with any political party or organization.
If gazetted and implemented, the new rule will go a long way in removing the influence of ‘big-money’ and party-level dictatorship in Nigerian politics. A total of 306 representatives also voted for the removal of immunity for the president and state governors, while 17 voted against it and 14 abstained from voting.
The removal of immunity is a huge blow to executive positions of the president and especially the powerful 36 state governors, who wield enormous powers which analysts believe encourages corruption and impunity in administrative responsibilities.
The prosecution of governors alleged to have abused the privilege of their position has been problematic for law enforcement since the advent of the democratic order under which the current political dispensation operates in Nigeria.
Although the occupants of such offices will remain influential by virtue of the powers they wield, the removal of the immunity clause will no doubt make the job of prosecuting erring executive governors, and even the president, much easier.
The House of Representatives also on Wednesday voted unanimously for direct funding from the Federation Account to local government councils, effectively granting autonomy to the third level of public administration that has erstwhile struggled under the dominance of state administrations in the current constitution.
A total of 293 lawmakers voted for the autonomy, while 39 voted against it and seven abstained. Consequently, Section 162 (6) of the constitution reads that each local government council shall maintain a special account to be called “Local Government Council Allocation Account’’ into which shall be paid directly such allocations to the local government council from the Federation Account and from the government of the state.
Under the proposed legislation, local government councils without democratically-elected officials will not be entitled to any revenue allocation from the federation. The House also followed the Senate in approving life pension for presiding officers of both the National Assembly and House of Assemblies.
Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives said all the clauses met the required two third majority for the amendment of the constitution. He said that items not taken would be taken when the House resumes from its upcoming annual recess. Tambuwal commended members of the ad hoc committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution in particular and members in general for their patience.
The vote, originally scheduled for July 23 was deferred to July 24 to enable NIGCOMSAT to initiate the electronic platform for transparent voting system. But the House resorted to manual voting because the system malfunctioned.