The Senate on Wednesday passed, for a second reading, a bill seeking to compensate victims of the #EndSARS protest.

The bill entitled, A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Act, was sponsored by Bassey, Gershom (PDP, Cross-River ).

Mr Bassey, in his lead debate, said the bill sought to provide for the establishment of the EndSARS Victims Compensation Fund.

”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, destruction of private and public properties by rampaging hoodlums, who seized and took over the protest, destroyed and looted valuable assets.

“However, distinguished colleagues, the implementation of the recommendation of all the panels and committees regarding compensation has been very discouraging,” Mr Bassey said.

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 bring succour to the victims of the 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.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan thereafter referred the bill to the Committee on Special Duties for further legislative input and reported back to plenary in one week.

(NAN)