Senate Passes Bill To Compensate EndSARS Victims

The Senate’s second reading of a bill to provide compensation for EndSARS protest victims has been approved.

The EndSARS Victims Compensation Fund is intended to be established in accordance with the provisions of the law titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Emergency Management Agency Act” and sponsored by Senator Gershom Bassey of the Peoples Democratic Party, Cross River State.

The lawmaker stated that the establishment of the fund and implementation of the recommendations of the judicial panel of inquiry and Senate Joint Committee on EndSARS would undoubtedly provide comfort to the victims of the 2020 EndSARS nationwide protest.

Read Also: Todd Boehly To Reduce His Administration Activities In Chelsea

The lawmaker noted that victims have been left to continually groan under the pains of injury inflicted by hoodlums during the 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.”

The bill was referred to the Committee on Special Duties on May 24 by President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan for additional legislative input after it passed its second reading. In one week, they must report back to the full assembly.

The EndSARS protest took place in 2020, where Nigerian youth came out to protest against the harassment of the Nigerian police on the citizens.