The Nigeria Governors Forum has declared a state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence.
The governors have condemned all forms of violence against women and children and will work to ensure offenders face the makimum weight of the law.
The forum urged all states to domesticate the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, the Child Rights Act and the updated Penal Code to increase protection for women and children and ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of perpetrators in addition to creating a sex offenders register in each State to name and shame;
This resolution is one out of several other decisions reached at the end of the 10th COVID-19 teleconference meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ forum.
The governors also refused to shift grounds from their earlier stance on the proposed infectious disease bill and insist the bill takes into account the crucial role of State Governments within Nigeria’s federal system in responding to pandemics in the country.
The forum wants the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 to prioritize government’s response across the country in hotspots that account for the largest share of COVID-19 cases.
The forum charged member states to develop a strategy for opening its economy based on the Guidelines agreed to by the Task Force and the Nigeria Governors Forum.
