A bill seeking to compensate victims of EndSARS protest has passed second reading in the Senate on Wednesday.
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, then referred the bill to the Committee on Special Duties for further legislative input and report back to plenary in one week.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Gershom Bassey, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Cross River State.
Bassey said the bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the EndSARS Victims Compensation Fund.
He 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 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.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
