The Vanuatu prime minister, Joe Natuman, and his deputy, Ham Lini, want the speaker of parliament to suspend the opposition leader and 15 other opposition MPs.
The prime minister and Mr Lini deposited a motion with the speaker, Philip Boedoro, on Wednesday and it is due to be heard next Tuesday.
The leaders say the opposition leader, Moana Carcasses, his deputy Serge Vohor and 14 other opposition MPs should be suspended for all of the next session because of Leadership Code breaches.
It follows revelations of opposition plans to entice government MPs to their side for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister.
Our correspondent says Mr Carcasses has openly stated that he is offering 10,000 US dollars to any MP from either the opposition or the government side willing to pledge allegiance to him.