By Olugbenga Salami
The Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill to decriminalise attempted suicide and establish a national framework for prevention and rehabilitation.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), seeks to resolve contradictions in Nigerian laws where the National Mental Health Act treats attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring treatment, while Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code still criminalise it.
Leading debate, Ekpenyong said criminalisation discourages help-seeking, forces families to hide attempts, and distorts data, warning that it could push distressed persons to ensure their attempts are fatal to avoid prosecution.
“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 said.
The bill proposes replacing jail terms with mandatory assessment, referral, treatment and follow-up, plus crisis helplines, training for police, teachers and health workers, public education and a national data system.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, however, opposed decriminalisation, arguing it could encourage the act.
“If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail,” Akpabio said, adding that since both Criminal and Penal Codes are involved, State Houses of Assembly must be heard at public hearing to avoid legal conflicts.
The bill was referred to the Committees on Judiciary and Health for public hearing and further legislative work.
