The Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading, a bill seeking to compensate victims of the EndSARS protest.
The bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Emergency Management Agency Act” was sponsored by Senator Gershom Bassey a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Cross River State.
The lawmaker who noted that victims have been left to continually groan under the pains of injury inflicted by hoodlums during the protest stated that the establishment of the fund and implementation of the recommendation 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.
“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 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 destruction of private and public properties by rampaging hoodlums, who seized and took over the protest vandalizing and looting valuable assets.
“However, the implementation of the recommendation of all the panels and committees regarding compensation has been very discouraging.
“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,” Bassey said.
After the bill passed its second reading on Wednesday, May 24, President of Senate Ahmed Lawan referred it to the Committee on Special Duties for further legislative input. They are to report back to the plenary in one week.
