#EndSARS: Senate passes bill to compensate victims

A bill seeking to compensate victims of the EndSARS protest has passed second reading in the senate. The bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Emergency  Management  Agency Act” and sponsored by Senator Gershom Bassey a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Cross River State, seeks to provide for the establishment of the EndSARS Victims Compensation Fund.

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 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.

Bassey 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.

“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.”

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 plenary in one week.