.....Speaker assures rigorous scrutiny to ensure compliance with the Constitution and existing Nigerian laws
The Ogun State House of Assembly has advanced a landmark bill seeking to establish a legal framework for the safe termination of pregnancy under specified medical and legal circumstances, as part of efforts to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality across the state.
The proposed legislation, titled "H.B. No. 036/OG/2026 – Ogun State Safe Termination of Pregnancy Law, 2026," scaled its second reading during plenary at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, following extensive deliberations by lawmakers.
Speaking shortly after the debate, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, assured residents that the bill would be subjected to a painstaking legislative process to ensure that its provisions are consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all existing laws governing reproductive healthcare.
Elemide explained that while the proposed law seeks to reduce preventable maternal deaths, promote safe motherhood and reproductive health rights, and establish legal conditions for the safe termination of pregnancy, the Assembly would ensure that no aspect of the legislation conflicts with extant federal laws or creates legal ambiguities.
According to the Speaker, the House Committee on Health, working alongside other relevant stakeholders, would conduct a comprehensive review of the bill to align its provisions with constitutional requirements while preserving its core objective of safeguarding the lives and health of women facing medically complicated pregnancies.
"The House is committed to ensuring that every legislation passed by this Assembly meets constitutional standards and adequately serves the interest of the people of Ogun State. This bill will undergo thorough scrutiny to achieve its intended objectives without creating redundancy or legal conflicts," he stated.
Earlier, while leading the debate, the sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Wahab Haruna, described the proposed legislation as a timely response to the persistent challenge of maternal mortality and morbidity in the state.
Haruna noted that despite advances in healthcare delivery, pregnancy-related complications continue to claim the lives of many women, stressing that the bill seeks to provide a clear legal and medical framework for circumstances under which pregnancy termination may be carried out by qualified medical practitioners in approved health facilities.
He explained that the legislation specifically provides for situations where the life or health of a pregnant woman is endangered, ensuring that medical professionals can act within clearly defined legal boundaries to preserve lives.
The lawmaker maintained that the measure is primarily a public health intervention designed to improve maternal healthcare outcomes and strengthen the state's response to high-risk pregnancies.
Supporting the bill, Hon. Babatunde Tella said the legislation would encourage timely medical intervention in cases where pregnancy poses significant risks to the life of a woman.
He noted that providing legal clarity for healthcare professionals would enhance the quality of emergency obstetric care while reducing avoidable maternal deaths arising from delayed or unsafe medical decisions.
Also contributing to the debate, Hon. Lukman Adeleye stressed the need for Ogun State to embrace globally accepted best practices in reproductive healthcare within the limits of Nigerian law.
According to him, the proposed legislation would establish the necessary legal and institutional framework for safe pregnancy termination in legally recognised circumstances, particularly in cases involving severe medical complications.
Adeleye further argued that the bill would provide protection and medical support for victims of rape, helping to reduce their physical and psychological trauma while contributing to the broader goal of lowering maternal mortality rates.
Similarly, Hon. Oluseun Adesanya, Hon. Yusuf Sheriff and other lawmakers threw their weight behind the proposed legislation, describing it as an important step toward improving women's access to accurate reproductive health information and quality medical care.
They expressed optimism that the law, if eventually passed, would strengthen healthcare delivery by ensuring that women facing life-threatening pregnancy complications receive appropriate medical attention in approved healthcare facilities.
Following the successful second reading, the House committed the bill to its Committee on Health for further legislative consideration.
The committee is expected to engage relevant stakeholders, including medical professionals, legal experts, civil society organisations and other interested groups, before presenting its report to the House for further deliberation.
If eventually enacted, the proposed law is expected to provide a clearer legal framework for managing complex pregnancy-related medical cases while complementing Ogun State's broader efforts to improve maternal healthcare, reduce preventable maternal deaths and strengthen reproductive health services.
