The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has set up a National Stakeholders Committee for the implementation of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Injury Act 2017 signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The committee will look into areas of concern by relevant stakeholders for the purpose of drawing up a national framework for the effective implementation of the act.
Although the Act was signed into law in 2017, findings by the NBA revealed that that the act was yet to yield its full benefit to Nigerians as there are widely reported cases of victims of gunshot injury being denied treatment by hospitals and clinics on grounds of fear of arrest by officers of the Nigerian Police Force, and other unexplained reasons.
It was gathered that the objective of the NBA is aimed at bringing together critical stakeholders relevant to the full implementation of the act and for purposes of synergy and collaboration towards the treatment of victims of gunshot injury as provided for by the act and to prevent further loss of lives.
The 25-man committee has Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) as Chairman and Benard Onigah as Secretary.
It is drawn from the NBA, a representative each from Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Medical Association, Federal Ministry of Health, National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Civil Defense Corp, Federal Road Safety Commission, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights.
Others were drawn from House of Representative Committee of Judiciary and Human Rights, Office of the National Security Adviser, Senate Committee of Health, House of Representative Committee on Health, National Orientation Agency, Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Christian Association of Nigeria, Jama’atu nasir Islam, Office of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Public Interest Advocacy Initiative and Crimes Victim Foundation.
The terms of reference of the committee include: “To identify areas of concerns by the Nigerian Police Force and other stakeholders hampering the successful implementation of the Act with a view to finding amicable approaches; Identify areas of collaboration and synergy between Government Agencies and Stakeholders ; Draw up a national framework for sensitization and orientation of Citizens on their role and responsibility as provided for by the Act; Signing of Memorandum of Collaboration between Stakeholders; and to make such other recommendations as may be necessary for the successful implementation by the Act.”
In 2017, the National Assembly passed the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Injury Act. The Act provides clear cut approaches and modus operandi for the treatment of victims of gunshots, as well as obligations for citizens and relevant stakeholders such as security agencies, hospitals and clinics.
Section 11 of the Act imposes an imprisonment term of five years to any security agent, hospital and citizen who fails to perform his or her duty as stipulated by the Act.
The Act further provided for the offence of ‘’Standing by’’ thereby imposing a lawful duty on all Nigerians to render compulsory assistance to victims of gunshot injury.
Recently, a bill seeking to amend the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017, otherwise known as ‘’The Gunshot Act’’ in other to make provision for the establishment of Medical Emergency Assistance for victims was sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu .
The Nigerian Bar Association as the leading Public Interest Organization in Nigeria, charged with the responsibility of protecting Rule of Law and Human Rights has observed that the lofty intention of the Act has not been fully implemented, as there are widely reported cases of victims of gunshot been denied treatments and care by hospitals and clinics across Nigeria, hence the setting up of the stakeholders committee.
The committee will hold its inaugural meeting tomorrow in Abuja.