Senate Approves ENDSARS Victims Compensation Bill

A law intended to provide compensation for EndSARS protest victims was approved for second reading by the Senate on Wednesday.

Senator Gershom Bassey of the Peoples Democratic Party from Cross River State introduced the legislation with the working title “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Emergency Management Agency Act.”

In his opening remarks, Massey stated that the law aims to establish the EndSARS Victims Compensation Fund.

You may remember that as a result of the Endsars countrywide protests in October 2020, he said to his distinguished colleagues.

“Judicial panels of inquiry were established to address the protesters’ requests and provide compensation for those who were actually injured during the EndSARS demonstration.

EFCC Operative Resigns To Join #EndSARS Protest, EFCC React

“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.”
According to him, the victims have been left to continually groan under the pains of injury inflicted by hoodlums during the protest.

He said the eventual establishment of the fund and implementation of the recommendation of the judicial panel of inquiry and Senate Joint Committee on Endsars would certainly bring succour to the victims of the 2020 EndSARS nationwide protest.

“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,” he said.

President of Senate Ahmed Lawan, therefore, referred the bill to the Committee on Special Duties for further legislative input and report back to plenary in one week.

Follow us on facebook