By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development(SCDDD) Centre, an NGO pushing for the assent of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaha Bello, towards the implementation of Violent Against Persons Prohibition(VAPP) Act in kogi state, has inaugurated a steering committee to drive the process.
Our Correspondent recalls that kogi State House of Assembly passed the Bill sometime ago, with a view for the state to join other states in domesticating the Act.
Inaugurating the committee, headed by an interim chairman, Mr Mike Abu, during maiden meeting on Friday at the Golden Grand Royale Hotel, Lokoja, the Senior Programme Manager,SCDDD, Sir Bola Abimbola urged members of the interim committee to discharge their assignment with utmost sense of commitment and dedication, with a view to achieving the desired success.
With an advocacy language, “ Kogi No Dey Carry Last”, through which it the committee intends to mobilise sufficient goodwill and support for the assent to the Bill, Sir Abimbola stressed that with a little push, the VAPP Bill would be signed into law in the state.
He acknowledging Governor Bello’s uncommon scorecards in youths and women development as well as persons living with disabilities.
The interim chairman, in response, disclosed that the committee had agreed on a number of strategies to deploy in prevailing on the state government to assent to the Bill.
Parts of the strategies, he added, include: media day of action, where he said the committee would explore media platforms to push it’s aims and objectives as well as engage key stakeholders towards seeing to the signing and gazetting of the state VAPP Bill.”
Abu expressed optimism that the Bill,if assented to, would attract speedy attention the need to safeguard the citizens against violence of any kind.
This he argued became necessary considering Governor Bello’s passion for issues of safety, rights, dignity and security of Kogi people.
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.
Finding shows that only four states are yet to fully domesticate VAPP.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
