The Ekiti House of Assembly has passed a bill to enable children, who fall victim of sexual abuse in the state, receive compulsory, immediate and adequate medical treatment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill was passed at Tuesday’s plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, in Ado-Ekiti.
The passage of the bill, entitled “Sexual Violence Against Children (Compulsory Treatment and Care) Bill, 2020, followed the submission of the report of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development by its Chairperson, Mrs. Adekemi Balogun.
Balogun (APC-Ado I) had said that the bill, if passed, would guarantee a child sexually abused access to immediate and adequate medical treatment at any registered hospital in the state.
The draft bill also stipulates that any hospital, person in charge of medical institutions and corporate organisations, who fails to receive and ensure access to adequate medical care of children sexually violated, is liable to prosecution.
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The punishment for any offender, who refuses to receive and treat victim as well as report the matter to the nearest police station or the appropriate body, ranges from a fine of N500,000 to N1,000,000 or imprisonment upon conviction.
NAN reports that the Assembly, at its Tuesday plenary, also passed the Ekiti College of Agriculture and Technology, Isan-Ekiti Law (Amendment), 2020.
The lawmakers also debated the Ekiti Public Finance Management Bill, 2020.
Contributing to the debate, Messrs Gboyega Aribisogan (APC-Ikole I) and Rapheal Ajibade (APC-Moba) as well as Mrs. Olubunmi Adelugba said that if passed, the bill would strengthen the management of public funds in the state.
They, therefore, urged members to give speedy passage to the bill in the interest of accountability and transparency of governance in the state.
Commenting on the bill, Afuye urged the appropriate committee to look at every clause of the draft so that there would not be any conflict with any extant law.
The bill was subsequently committed to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further legislative consideration.
NAN reports the lawmakers, thereafter, adjourned plenary till June 4.
