The Bayelsa State Violations Against Persons Prohibition Steering Committee has expressed optimism that the sixth Assembly will give speedy attention to the bill before it.
Members of the Steering Committee believe that if domesticated the VAPP Act will curb different forms of violence, including election-related
manifestations.
The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill was passed by the House of Representatives in 2013 and the Senate in 2015. It became the VAPP Act 2015 after former President Goodluck Jonathan signed it into law.
The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Steering Committee is at the State Assembly to present the draft Bill for consideration by the lawmakers.
Expected to complement the Nigerian Criminal law, the Bill outlaws chemical or biological attack such as the use of acid, female genital mutilation and child marriages.
The Bill also seeks to eliminate all forms of violence, including election-related manifestations. Oyo, Enugu are some of the few states that have passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill into law.
