By Zara Maisango
In a bold legislative push, the House of Representatives has advanced 42 constitutional amendment bills, including a proposal to strip the Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies of immunity. The move, aimed at enhancing accountability and curbing corruption, signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s governance structure.
Among the major proposals is the creation of six new states—Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, Ife-Ijesa, Tiga, Orlu, and Etiti—intended to address regional representation and development disparities. Lawmakers also deliberated on granting traditional rulers an advisory role in governance, expanding citizenship rights to spouses of Nigerian women, and introducing citizenship by investment to attract foreign capital.
Further amendments seek to separate the offices of the Attorney-General from that of the Minister or Commissioner for Justice, as well as enforce stricter financial accountability through enhanced audit and budget reporting requirements.
With these sweeping reforms, the House is setting the stage for a possible political transformation, pending approval from the Senate and state assemblies.