The Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish a national framework for suicide prevention, decriminalise attempted suicide and provide treatment and rehabilitation for survivors, despite opposition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
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The bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, seeks to replace criminal punishment for attempted suicide with a health-centred response involving assessment, referral, treatment and follow-up support.
Leading debate on the proposal, Ekpenyong said existing Nigerian laws presented what he described as a contradiction, noting that while the National Mental Health Act treats attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring medical attention, provisions of the Criminal Code and Penal Code still criminalise the act.
“At the heart of this bill is a simple question: when a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?” he asked.
Ekpenyong argued that criminalisation could discourage people experiencing severe distress from seeking help and could also lead families to conceal incidents, thereby making it more difficult for authorities to obtain reliable data and develop appropriate prevention policies.
He maintained that removing criminal penalties alone would not be enough, stressing that decriminalisation must be accompanied by accessible mental-health services and other forms of support.
The bill proposes mandatory assessment and referral for persons who survive suicide attempts instead of imprisonment. It also provides for crisis helplines, training for police officers, teachers and health workers, public education programmes and the establishment of a national data system for suicide prevention.
Akpabio, however, opposed the proposed removal of criminal penalties, arguing during the debate that attempted suicide should remain an offence.
The Senate President expressed concern that eliminating punishment could inadvertently encourage the act.
“If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail,” Akpabio said while expressing his opposition to the proposal.
He also pointed out that the legal issues involved extend to provisions of both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code and said State Houses of Assembly should be involved during the public hearing process to avoid conflicts between federal and state laws.
Despite Akpabio’s objections, the bill secured the support required to pass second reading.
It has now been referred to the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Health for further legislative consideration and a public hearing.
The committees are expected to examine the legal and health implications of the proposed reforms and receive submissions from relevant stakeholders before reporting back to the Senate.
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