Gombe Assembly passes Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act

Chima Azubuike

The Violence Against Persons Prohibition has been passed into law by the Gombe State House of Assembly.

The bill was passed on Tuesday during plenary following the approval and adoption of the report of the house committee on Judiciary.

PUNCH HealthWise reports that the VAPP law is expected to help curb violence against women in the state.

With the passage of the VAPP act, Gombe State has now joined the list of states in the federation where punitive actions are taken to forestall increasing violence against women.

While presenting his report, the chairman of the committee Musa Buba, said the bill for Violence Against Persons Prohibition which was referred to the committee late last year has received the needed scrutiny.

According to him, the committee sort the inputs of various stakeholders including traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, organised unions, the State Ministry of Justice, Judicial Service Commission among other relevant organisations.

Explaining further Buba said, “The input of organised Union and Associations such as NBA, ASUU, NLC, FIDA, NUT, NUJ, Religions organisations (CAN and JWIS), Chief Registrar of High Court and Sharia Court of Appeal, Gombe State Judicial Service Commission and the Ministry of Justice Gombe State was sort.”

He outlined some of the alterations and amendments made to the Act, which he said, would suit the culture and norms of the people in the state.

After much deliberation on the bill, the motion for the third reading, adoption, and subsequent passage into law was moved and seconded.

On his part, Speaker of the house Abubakar Luggerewo, lauded the committee’s resolve, to partner with various groups.

He said, “This is a well-done job, especially by engaging with major stakeholders, it will ensure that the law conforms to our religion and traditions.”

Commending the Assembly for the passage, the Chairman Coalition of Civil Society Organisations campaigning for the VAPP law in Gombe, Alhassan Yahya said, “I’m glad to break the news that our long-awaited VAPP Bill is now a Law in Gombe state. Kudos to every member of this platform and stakeholders. Congratulations all.”

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