Rep Wale Raji’s Bill Mandating Treatment For Victims Of Gunshot, Other Weapons Scales First Reading

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Member representing Epe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Wale Raji, has moved to mandate the treatment and care for victims of gunshots and other dangerous weapons.

The lawmaker’s bill seeking to amend the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshots Act 2017 passed first reading on Wednesday, December 19, 2023.

The introduction of the bill came months after the Maitama General Hospital in Abuja allegedly refused to attend to Greatness Olorunfemi who was stabbed by a one-chance driver in Abuja.

The victim bled to death after the hospital allegedly refused to attend to her, demanding a police report.

The Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshots Act (Amendment) Bill 2023 is aimed at clearing the ambiguity and broadening the scope of the 2017 law to also include victims of other dangerous weapons.

In a statement issued by Raji’s office on Saturday, the legislator stated that the aim of the amendment bill is to allow, by law, private and public hospitals to accept and provide immediate medical treatment, not only for victims of gun injuries, but also victims of other dangerous weapons such as knife, cutlass, bottle, and dagger, amongst others, with or without a police clearance/report.

The lawmaker, who’s also the Chairman, House Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said the bill will expressly clear the ambiguity which health and security professionals have identified and feel constrained about under the 2017 Act which specifically mentioned “gunshot victims”.

The ambiguity, he noted, has led to loss of precious lives, especially when it concerns victims of other dangerous weapons like knives, cutlasses, bottles, dagger, and other dangerous weapons that were not mentioned in the 2017 Act.

Raji said this amendment bill is to ensure that no life is lost as a result of the absence of such police report which might not be easy to obtain while a victim is in a critical condition and in need of urgent medical attention.

The lawmaker revealed that, aside the current bill, he has sponsored the following bills in the current tenth Assembly which all have direct effect on strengthening public institutions for the overall benefit of the nation and itss citizens.

The bills are:

1. Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (Amendment) Bill 2023.

2. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill 2023

3. Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2023

4. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act (Amendment) Bill 2023

5. Central Bank of Nigeria Act (Amendment) Bill 2023.

Raji promised to continue to bring his experience to bear in the strengthening of public institutions, attracting development to the grassroots and empowering his constituents.

Click here to watch our video of the week: