The federal executive council (FEC) has approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act 2021 to remove attempted suicide from Nigeria’s criminal laws.
Ali Pate, minister of health and social welfare, told State
House correspondents on Wednesday after the weekly FEC meeting that the
proposed amendment would be transmitted to the national assembly for
consideration and passage.
According to the minister, attempted suicide is a criminal
offence under provisions inherited from the colonial-era criminal code and
penal code, despite the National Mental Health Act providing for protection,
treatment and supportive care for people at risk of self-harm.
Pate said the existing legal framework could result in
people experiencing mental health crises being arrested and prosecuted after
surviving suicide attempts.
“The idea is attempted suicide is not a crime,” he said.
He said people who attempt suicide, particularly as a result
of mental health challenges, should be treated as those requiring medical and
psychological support rather than offenders.
Pate said the proposed reform followed consultations
involving mental health advocates, the ministry of justice, the
attorney-general’s office, the ministry of health and social welfare, a task
force and the national assembly.
He said the objective is to shift the national response from
punishment to treatment, care and support.
The minister said the government expected the policy change
to contribute to reducing suicide attempts and completed suicides.
“Our goal is to reduce by 15 percent by 2030,” he said.
FEC APPROVES ORAL HEALTH CENTRE BILL
The minister said the council also approved the National
Centre for Oral Health Establishment Bill 2026 for transmission to the national
assembly.
Pate said the proposed centre would serve as a national
referral, research and training institution for oral health and provide a legal
and institutional framework for tackling oral diseases in Nigeria.
He said the initiative could be traced to recommendations
made at the 1982 international congress of oral health research in Lagos, which
called for an inter-country demonstration, training and research centre for the
African region.
According to him, although the ministry of health
subsequently established a centre, it lacked the statutory backing required to
operate as a national institution.
He said the proposed legislation would provide the legal
foundation and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to deliver specialised oral
healthcare.
Pate said Nigeria already had specialised institutions
covering orthopaedic care, eye care, ear, nose and throat services and
snake-bite treatment, making the proposed oral health centre an important
addition to the country’s healthcare system.
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