Tinubu’s former spokesman seeks removal of immunity for Govs over transparency

President Bola Tinubu’s former spokesman in the south east, Denge. Dr. Josef Onoh, has called for the national assembly on the need to repeal immunity clause in section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria that confers immunity on state governors and deputies. This is coming after Nigeria’s Minister for Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, […]

President Bola Tinubu’s former spokesman in the south east, Denge. Dr. Josef Onoh, has called for the national assembly on the need to repeal immunity clause in section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria that confers immunity on state governors and deputies.

This is coming after Nigeria’s Minister for Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, revealed that poor performances of some state governors were contributing to economic hardship in the country.

The minister argued that the federal government was doing enough to end economic hardship in the country, but that some state governors were allegedly sabotaging the efforts.

Mr Momoh made the remark on Tuesday when he appeared as a guest on Channels TV.

Onoh in reacting to the minister’s statement said it’s time for Nigerians separate leaders from looters the next generation of Nigerian youths will make looting a business career and violent protests a social entertainment.

Onoh critically pointed out the need to repeal immunity clause in section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

He stated that the import of such immunity clause warrants the urgent need to remove the immunity clause in the organic law of Nigeria for it is an anomaly which breeds unaccountability and corruption in governance in Nigeria.

Onoh stated that the federal government was doing enough to end economic hardship in the country, and have extended palliatives to state Governor’s to cushion the hardship in their various states.

He said unfortunately these measures were not promoted by some governors in their respective states which would have helped tame the ongoing protest. some state governors were allegedly sabotaging the efforts.

“So far President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s grant since he became president is as follows:

– N570 billion Livelihood Support Fund: Released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens.
– N50 billion NELFUND: Released to the student loan scheme from the proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC.
– N50 billion Credit Corporation: Released from the proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC to help Nigerians acquire essential products without immediate cash payments.
– N200 billion Consumer Credit Corporation: Established to help Nigerians acquire essential products without immediate cash payments.
– N1 billion Single-Digit Loans: Payments made to large manufacturers to boost manufacturing output and stimulate growth.

Direct intervention to states
1. N5B palliative package for each state and the FCT, to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy

2. $617.7M IDICE to 36 states and FCT, with a target of 25,000 youths trained in each state and FCT

3. 42,000 MT of grains to all 36 states and FCT

4. Allocation of 20 trucks of rice to each state and FCT

5. CBN donated 2.15 Million × 50kg bags of various blends of fertilizers valued at over N100B to Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, for onward free distribution to farmers through the states and FCT
If the Federal government has done all this and hardship still persists in the country then it’s unfortunate and the more reason I urge the National Assembly to repeal the immunity clause of the governors and deputies in the constitution.

Onoh said that the origin of the doctrine of immunity cannot be located or pin pointed. Rather, it may suffice to predicateit on the doctrine of sovereign immunity practiced from time immemorial as a feudal concept of ancient England. (our colonial masters) It later became a Common Law principle. It was introduced into Nigeria as a colony of Britain. Hence, Nigeria inherited it as one of the Common Wealth countries under the British Crown. The doctrine of immunity presupposes that the king can do no wrong”. This concept of sovereign immunity, put differently, immunity of the leader at the apex, was enunciated to make any direct court action or claims against the Crown and today our governors are abusing with impunity.