Reps seek lesser punishment for suicide attempt survivors, encourage counselling

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a bill which seeks to provide a lesser punishment for suicidal people in the country. The bill sponsored by Francis Ejiroghene Waive seeks to amend the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, 2004 to provide for the rehabilitation and counselling as well as a lighter punishment for […]

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a bill which seeks to provide a lesser punishment for suicidal people in the country.

The bill sponsored by Francis Ejiroghene Waive seeks to amend the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, 2004 to provide for the rehabilitation and counselling as well as a lighter punishment for offenders regarding the Act.

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It reads: “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB.1601)”.

In his lead debate, the lawmaker said, suicide attempts have been on the increase in Nigeria due to several reasons.

He added that there is a strong link between suicide and mental health issues, however, lamenting that it had continued to be treated as a crime in Nigeria.

He said: “This means that a person who survives a suicide attempt will be harassed, arrested and punished by the state with an imprisonment term of up to one year.

“Many countries who hitherto punished non-fatal suicidal behaviours have since repealed or reviewed their laws, however, Nigeria still holds the attempted criminally liable for unsuccessful suicide acts.

He continued, “This Bill suggests that suicidal people need effective treatments, counselling and assistance, not punishment.

“Penalising attempted suicide is hardly a prevention method instead the law should direct the appropriate authorities to assist the traumatised attempts”.