The Nigerian Senate has taken a firm stance against drug trafficking by approving a bill that introduces the death sentence as a penalty for those found guilty of drug-related crimes.
The bill, which underwent a thorough review, aims to strengthen the operations of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
During the review, a proposed amendment to increase the penalty from life imprisonment to death sentence for drug traffickers was adopted. Although the decision was met with some opposition, the Senate ultimately ruled in favor of the amendment.
Additionally, the Senate has begun reviewing the salaries, allowances, and benefits of judicial office holders to prevent bribery and corruption and ensure the independence of the judiciary. An executive bill aimed at prescribing salaries for judicial office holders at both federal and state levels has scaled second reading and is expected to address the long-standing issue of stagnant remuneration.
While the bill received widespread support, some lawmakers emphasized the need to review salaries and remuneration across other sectors, given the current economic challenges. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further review and reporting.