From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisation (CSO) and other stakeholders advocating for the adoption of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law in Gombe State has commended the state House of Assembly for answering the call and passing the bill into law.
The bill which scaled through scrutiny by the house committee on the judiciary was passed during plenary on Tuesday, making Gombe the last state to adopt the law in the Northeast sub-region.
The coalition in a statement signed by its chairman and secretary Mr Alhassan Yahya and Amina Poloma assured that the development will encourage other states to domesticate the law so as to end violence against women and girls.
The group commended the Speaker of the assembly and the other 24 members of the house. “VAPP Coalitions also wishes to commend and congratulate the Gombe State governor for passing this landmark bill that will contribute to ensuring that violence against women and girls in Gombe State is eliminated.
“We also commend the efforts of civil society organisations, community-based organisations, individuals, and other groups that have pushed for the passage of the VAPP Act,” the group said.
However, the coalition called on the state governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya to make it all official by assenting to the new law which according to them is capable of ending violence against persons and reducing criminal offences in the state.
“The VAPP Act prohibits all forms of violence against persons in private and public life and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders. Most importantly, it prohibits all forms of violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
“It is our hope and prayers His Excellency the Governor of Gombe State will assent the law without delay,” the coalition said.
Meanwhile, prior to the passage of the VAPP law, Speaker of the House, Abubakar Luggerewo, had assured that the house was studying the VAPP bill as well as the Child Rights Act (CRA) for passage into law. A group of CSO and other partners called and advocated for the passage and domestication of CRA in Gombe State.