Bill Seeks to Criminalize Negligence of Duty

The senate has held a public hearing on the Bill seeking to make acts of negligence of duty that result in death of Nigerians corporate manslaughter.

The bill spells out punishment including fine or as may be directed for corporate bodies found to disregard the lives of Nigerians.

In addition, this bill, when passed, will also punish government agencies that run contrary to the provisions of this bill.

David Mark, Senate president regretted that up till now, managers of corporate bodies are protected from crimes of corporate manslaughter, which are punishable in other jurisdictions.

Mark who declared open the public hearing said that the bill which seeks to create a new offence to protect Nigerians, should be treated as a noble and innovative idea.

The senate president represented by open Victor Ndoma Egba, leader of the Senate, called on stakeholders to come forth with suggestions and contributions that will help the senate make the law in a way to stand the test of time.

, Dahiru Mustapha, chairman of the senate committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, had in in his speech, said the public hearing is aimed at collating inputs from the public, which will later be presented on the floor of the senate for further deliberation.

He said that when the bill becomes a law, it will go a long way to entrench corporate responsibility among managers of corporate bodies, especially in the interest of their workers.

Dahiru, who pointed out that the practise is already in place in developed democracies, expressed joy that in a shortwhile, culpable deaths caused by negligence will be prosecuted.

While expressing hope that the hearing will create platform for Nigerians to bare their minds on the issue, he said that the senate will be better informed if the public comes forth with their recommendations.

Pius Ewerido, sponsor of the bill, said that after Dana crash, many believed that time has come for Nigeria to rise up against wastage of lives of Nigerians.

He said that the thought was that as elected lawmakers, the senate has the duty to make laws that will protect Nigerians from deaths caused by recklessness and carelessness of managers in both government and corporate bodies.