Senate passes EndSARS compensation bill for 2nd reading

On Wednesday, the Senate passed, for second reading, a bill seeking to compensate victims of the EndSARS protest.

The bill entitled A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Act" was sponsored by Sen. Bassey, Gershom (PDP Cross-River).

Bassey, in his lead debate, said the bill sought to provide for the establishment of the EndSARS Victims Compensation Fund.

Bassey said: “Distinguished colleagues, you may recall that as a result of the EndSARS nationwide protests in October 2020.

”Judicial panels of inquiry were constituted to address the demands of protesters and provide compensation for verified victims of the EndSARS protest.

“The findings of the judicial panels of inquiry and the Senate Joint Committee on EndSARS revealed the killing of protesters and the destruction of private and public properties by rampaging hoodlums, who seized and took over the protest and destroyed and looted valuable assets.

"However, distinguished colleagues, the implementation of the recommendations of all the panels and committees regarding compensation has been very discouraging.”

According to him, the victims have been left to continually groan under the pain of injuries inflicted by hoodlums during the EndSARS protest.

He said the eventual establishment of the fund and implementation of the recommendations of the judicial panel of inquiry and Senate Joint Committee on EndSARS would certainly bring succor to the victims of the 2020 EndSARS nationwide protest.

“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, it is my prayer that you support this amendment bill that seeks to bring hope to the victims of the 2020 EndSARS protest,” he said.

The President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, thereafter referred the bill to the Committee on Special Duties for further legislative input and reported back to plenary in one week.