Rt. Comrade Emmanuel Johnny Calls for Amendment to Death Penalty Law

The National President of the National Council For Civil Society Organisations (NACCSO) and Vision-One Leadership Development Initiative (VOLDI), Rt. Comrade Emmanuel Johnny*, has urged the National Assembly to reconsider the existing law governing the execution of death row inmates. Speaking at the 2025 Edition of National Stakeholders and Civil Society Summit in Abuja, Comrade Johnny proposed two potential solutions to address the delays in executing death sentences.

*The Current Challenge*

Under the current law, governors are required to sign off on executions, leading to significant delays and condemned inmates languishing in prisons for extended periods. This not only denies justice to victims and their families but also places an undue burden on the nation’s resources, as the cost of feeding and maintaining these inmates continues to escalate.

*Proposed Solutions*

Comrade Johnny suggested that the law be amended to allow executions to proceed without gubernatorial approval or permit willing citizens to sign off on executions. This, he argues, would ensure that justice is served promptly and resources are utilized more efficiently.

Therefore, re-examining the death penalty law, Nigeria can ensure that justice is served, resources are utilized efficiently, and the nation’s commitment to fighting crime is reinforced. Comrade Johnny emphasized that Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, has zero tolerance for crime, and any Nigerian who needs freedom should resist or stay out of crime.