The National Conference Committee on Politics and Governance has recommended for the removal of Section 305 on immunity clause from the 1999 Constitution.

The Chairman of the Committee and a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, told journalists on Tuesday that the committee was concerned about the abuse  of office by public office holders and the corruption that goes with it.

He said the committee was of the opinion that a message should be sent to Nigerians and office holders that no one was above the law.

Gana said, “Our recommendation is still subject to the approval of the plenary. We took decision on the immunity clause and it was a clear consensus in the interest of zero tolerance for corruption, to promote good governance, to promote transparency and discipline.

“The fact that we don’t want people going around that the leaders are above the law, we decided that the immunity clause should be removed from our constitution.

“This is not yet the decision of the conference though, but this is what we are presenting to the plenary.

“I must say that the entire members of the committee went along with the decision, we had no reason to divide the committee because it was a consensus.”

Also, the Committee on Power Devolution in the National Conference on Tuesday failed to reach any agreement on whether item 39, which is the mines, mineral resources, revenue and geological surveys should be on the Exclusive List or on the Concurrent List.

Also, the delegates failed to reach an agreement or consensus on revenue sharing and resource control.

These issues had preoccupied their deliberations since Monday.

Journalists were sent out after the lunch break to enable the members to discuss without any interference, but after four hours of intensive deliberations and lobbying, the delegates failed to reach  an agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Punch