By Stephen Adeleye
The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), an NGO, has inaugurated a steering committee to drive the process of implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition(VAPP) Act in Kogi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Kogi House of Assembly had in 2021, passed the Bill with a view for the state to join other states in domesticating the Act.
The Senior Programme Manager, SCDDD, Mr Bola Abimbola, at the Inauguration of the committee urged members of the interim committee to discharge their assignment with utmost sense of commitment and dedication.
According to him, SCDDD is pushing for the assent of the Kogi governor, Alhaji Yahaha Bello, with a view to achieving the desired success.
With an advocacy language, Kogi No Dey Carry Last, is through which the committee intends to mobilise sufficient goodwill and support for the assent to the Bill.
With a little push, the VAPP Bill will be signed into law in the state.
Abimbola, however, acknowledged the governors uncommon scorecards in youths and women development as well as persons living with disabilities.
In his inaugural speech, the interim Chairman of the committee, Mr Mike Abu, said the committee had agreed on a number of strategies to deploy in prevailing on the state government to assent to the Bill.
He noted that the strategies included media day of action, where the committee would explore media platforms to push its aims and objectives.
Also we will engage key stakeholders toward seeing to the signing and gazetting of the state VAPP Bill, he said.
Abu expressed optimism that the Bill, when assented to, would attract speedy attention on the need to safeguard the citizens against violence of any kind.
This, he said, became necessary considering the governors passion for issues of safety, rights, dignity and security of Kogi people.
NAN reports that the VAPP Act is designed to tackle all forms of violence against persons in private and public life as well as providing maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment for offenders.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Chioma Ugboma
Source: NAN News