The Nigeria Governors Forum has agreed to declare a state of emergency on sexual and gender-based violence against women and children.
Chairman of the NGF and Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, made this known in a communique issued in Abuja, on Thursday.
According to Fayemi, the governors reached this decision at the forum’s 10th COVID-19 Teleconference meeting held on Wednesday following the increases in cases of rape and murder in the country.
The group said henceforth no person convicted for sex offence such as rape would enjoy his powers of the prerogative of mercy. The governors added that they have renewed commitment to ensuring that offenders face the full weight of the law.
The communique read in parts: “Governors agreed to declare a State of Emergency on Sexual and Gender-based Violence. Governors strongly condemned all forms of violence against women and children and committed to ensuring that offenders face the maximum weight of the law;
“Call on State Governors that have not already domesticated relevant gender-based protection laws 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 sex offenders’ register in each State to name and shame.”
