A
abujagirl
Guest
Former presiding officers of the National Assembly including former senate presidents are to lose their rights to hold diplomatic passports and be accorded the privileges equivalent to the status of diplomats when they travel outside Nigeria.
Also,the heads of two paramilitary institutions, the Nigeria Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) , have been removed from the list of Nigerians eligible to be issued diplomatic passports.
This new development follows the consideration and adoption of the report of the House Committee on Interior on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Passport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap P1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Hon. Umar Bature, Chairman, House Committee on Interior said the amendment was aimed at streamlining the eligibility of persons allowed to carry diplomatic passports and avoid its abuse.
According to THIS DAY LIVE,the adopted report states that, notwithstanding the provisions of any law in force, persons holding the following offices shall be eligible for the issuance of a diplomatic passport for the purpose of conducting their official duties: President, Commander in Chief and spouse; Vice President and spouse; Senate President; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Chief Justice of the Federation; Deputy Senate President; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; State Governors; and State Deputy Governors.
Also eligible are former heads of state, members of the National Assembly, justices of the Supreme Court, presidents of the Court of Appeal, federal ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service to the Government of the Federation, Clerk of the National Assembly, Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Heads of Paramilitary Institutions (Customs, Immigration and Prisons), Heads of Mission and Foreign Service Officers accredited to Nigerian missions abroad and their spouses, defence attaches and their deputies in all Nigerian Missions abroad, Immigration, Information and Customs Attaches in Nigerian missions abroad, as well as heads of security/intelligence agencies in Nigeria, namely, State Security Services (SSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The report also stated that diplomatic passports may also be issued to any other person for whom the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approves using his prerogative. It stipulates that official passports shall be issued to such category of public officers by the Minister of Interior solely for the purpose of diplomatic assignments.
Speaking on the amendment, Hon. Nnena Elendu- Ukeje, Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs said, "We must be careful because holding a diplomatic passport means you can do some things without consequences in a foreign land. Things like double parking and exemption from certain taxes".
She urged diplomatic passport holders not to decrease the potency of the passport.