By, Olawale Ogunbusola, Ibadan

The Oyo State House of Assembly has assured stakeholders that the Oyo State Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion (Prevention and Regulation) Bill, 2025, will receive accelerated legislative consideration as part of efforts to protect the lives, health and future of young people, particularly girls and women across the state.

The assurance was given during a public hearing on the proposed legislation held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Wednesday, with support from PLAN Foundation and other development partners.

The hearing brought together medical practitioners, legal experts, civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth representatives and government agencies, who submitted memoranda and made contributions aimed at strengthening the bill before its final consideration by lawmakers.

Speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Rilwan Saminu, said the House of Assembly was committed to ensuring that the bill will receive the necessary legislative attention in view of its importance to public health and the well-being of residents.

He explained that the proposed law seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for prevention, awareness creation, education, support services, regulation and monitoring mechanisms to reduce the incidence of unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions in Oyo State.

According to him, many young girls and women continue to face the consequences of unplanned pregnancies, including interrupted education, limited career opportunities, health complications and social challenges.

Hon. Saminu assured stakeholders that the Assembly would carefully consider all submissions made during the hearing and ensure that the final legislation serves the best interests of the people while protecting lives and promoting healthy family and community values.

Also speaking, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, Hon. Olufunke Olajide, described the public hearing as a critical stage in the legislative process.

She expressed confidence that the various contributions and recommendations received from stakeholders would enrich the bill and enhance its effectiveness when eventually passed into law.

Hon. Olajide noted that families and communities often bear the burden of unplanned pregnancies through school drop-outs, health complications and increased socio-economic challenges, stressing that prevention remains the central focus of the proposed legislation.

She further expressed optimism that the House of Assembly will pass the bill while Governor Seyi Makinde assents immediately.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, represented by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Kehinde Ayinde advocated stronger provisions on confidentiality, timely access to healthcare services, and legal protection for survivors of rape, incest, and reproductive exploitation.

The ministry also recommended amendments aimed at strengthening implementation, inter-agency collaboration, and survivor-centred care in line with national laws and public health standards.

He noted that: “Over 80% of induced abortions are performed by doctors in private settings. Data on legal terminations in Nigeria are lacking, but the worsening trend and the complications that follow induced abortions indicate a lack of skills and appropriate technology for the safe termination of pregnancy”.

“Comprehensive abortion care includes the provision of information, abortion management (including induced abortion), care related to pregnancy loss/spontaneous abortion, and post-abortion care”.

“Strengthening access to comprehensive abortion care within the health system is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relating to Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Gender Equality (SDG 5)”, he said.

Representatives of the Oyo State Ministry of Justice described the bill as a timely and progressive legislative initiative, capable of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in the quest to protecting the rights and dignity of women and girls.

Stakeholders at the hearing commended the Oyo State House of Assembly for its commitment to inclusive lawmaking and urged lawmakers to sustain the momentum towards the speedy passage of the bill.

They also lauded the support of PLAN Foundation in promoting advocacy and stakeholder engagement on issues relating to reproductive health, protection of girls and women, prevention of unsafe abortion and unplanned pregnancies in the state.