The Senate has given its nod to the imposition of the death penalty on drug traffickers as part of the amendments to the 2024 NDLEA Act, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to combating drug-related crimes.

The proposal, which received approval during the third reading of the 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill, was put forward during a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.

Senator Tahir Munguno, the Chairman of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Drugs & Narcotics, presented the report.

Under clause 11 of the amendment bill, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, proposed the amendment to replace a life sentence with the death penalty for drug traffickers.

Despite initial dissent, the proposal eventually secured majority approval after a second vote by the Deputy Senate President.

However, the swift passage of the amendment clause sparked disapproval from some senators, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who criticized the haste in the consideration process.

The Deputy Senate President rejected an objection by Senator Oshiomhole to reverse the ruling, insisting that it came late which is against the rules.

In addition to the amendment to the NDLEA Act, the Senate commenced a review of the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders across Nigeria.

The move aims to tackle bribery and corruption while ensuring the independence of the judiciary.

An executive bill seeking to prescribe salaries for judicial office holders at both federal and state levels passed its second reading, with lawmakers emphasizing the need to align remuneration with current socio-economic realities.

While the bill garnered unanimous support, some senators advocated for a broader review of salaries and remuneration across various sectors, given the prevailing economic challenges.

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further review, with a mandate to report back within four weeks.