The Nigerian Senate has approved a bill that imposes the death sentence on drug traffickers in the country. The 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill, which passed its third reading, aims to strengthen the operations of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
During the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, a proposed amendment to award a death sentence to drug traffickers instead of a life sentence was raised. Despite some initial dissent, the amendment was approved through a voice vote.
Additionally, the Senate has commenced reviewing the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria to curb bribery and corruption and ensure the independence of the judiciary. An executive bill seeking to prescribe the salaries of judicial office holders at both federal and state levels scaled second reading and was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters to report back in four weeks.
While some lawmakers expressed concerns about the current economic hardship and the need to review salaries in other sectors, the bill was unanimously embraced. The approved amendments aim to promote the effectiveness of the NDLEA and ensure the independence of the judiciary.
