Akpabio insists on jail term for attempted suicide as Senate passes decriminalisation bill for second reading

The Senate has passed a bill for its second reading that seeks to decriminalise attempted suicide and establish a national framework for prevention and rehabilitation. Sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, the legislation proposes replacing criminal punishment with mandatory medical assessment, treatment, referral, and follow-up. The bill also aims to create a national data system, provide crisis helplines, and offer training for health workers, teachers, and police officers.

Senator Ekpenyong argued that criminalisation discourages individuals from seeking help and may push distressed persons to ensure suicide attempts are fatal to avoid prosecution. Daily Post Nigeria reports that the bill seeks to resolve inconsistencies between the National Mental Health Act, which treats attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency, and existing criminal and penal codes that criminalise the act.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio opposed the decriminalisation, arguing that it could encourage the act. According to Punch and Premium Times, Akpabio stated that suicide remains a crime for now and insisted that those who attempt suicide but fail should go to jail. Punch also reported that Akpabio noted the Senate had not yet held a public hearing on the proposed legislation.

Brief written by urgent.news from Premium Times, Daily Post Nigeria, Punch, Punch Nigeria — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.