Bauchi Assembly plans public hearing on unsafe childbirth bill

The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Dr Abubakar Y. Suleiman, has said the planned public hearing on the proposed Bill for the Prohibition of Unsafe Childbirth Practices, Management of Pregnancy Complications and Regulation of Blood Transfusions in Bauchi State will strengthen the legislation before it is passed into law.

Suleiman stated this on Saturday in Kano during a retreat for members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, organised by the Women’s Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) in collaboration with AmplifyChange.

Speaking after the retreat, Dr Suleiman said the bill had already passed its first and second readings and was currently at the committee stage.

“We don’t just pass laws. We pass laws with evidence and enough information so that any member can stand anywhere and defend that law,” he said.

He explained that the retreat gave lawmakers and experts the opportunity to review the bill and make necessary amendments before the next stage.

“As you can see, a lot of adjustments and amendments were made, which we believe have strengthened the bill,” he said.

The Speaker disclosed that the Assembly would hold a public hearing on the bill next week.

“The next stage is for us to conduct a public hearing between Monday and Friday. After that, the committee will capture all observations before bringing the bill back to the House,” he said.

He expressed confidence that Governor Bala Mohammed would support the bill, saying he had already briefed the governor on the proposal.

Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WARDC, Prof Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, described the proposed legislation as a major step towards reducing maternal deaths in Bauchi State.

“We know that Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios. This bill will contribute so much to the reduction of maternal mortality,” she said.

Akiyode-Afolabi noted that the bill would also regulate traditional birth attendants, which she said was necessary because many women still seek care from unregulated facilities.

“Regulating traditional birth attendants and ensuring that the facilities they use are standardised is an important aspect of the bill,” she said.

According to her, the proposed legislation also seeks to protect women facing pregnancy complications, including survivors of rape and incest, by ensuring they receive appropriate medical care and legal protection.

She commended the Bauchi State House of Assembly for what she described as its consistent commitment to laws that protect women and girls.

She expressed optimism that the bill would become law after the public hearing, noting that the Bauchi State Government had a tradition of cooperation between the executive and the legislature on important legislation.