Ogun State House of Assembly has begun reviewing the proposed Safe Termination of Pregnancy Bill following it’s public hearing, as legislators and maternal health advocates emphasize the importance of enacting a law that will help to curb preventable maternal deaths and strengthen access to reproductive healthcare across the state.

The review meeting, organised in collaboration with the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Gender Development Initiative (GENDI), Centre for Community Development Health and Family Enhancement Initiatives, Centre for Reproductive Rights, IPAS Nigeria Health Foundation and Amplify Change, brought together lawmakers, health professionals, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

The meeting was held in Ikeja, Lagos State, and also had in attendance the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker.

Speaking at the end of the session, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Oludaisi Elemide, represented by his deputy, Hon Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi, said the deliberations had gone beyond the provisions of the proposed bill to address the broader need to improve healthcare services and safeguard the well-being of Ogun residents.

Elemide commended the advocacy groups and other stakeholders for their contributions to the legislative process, saying their recommendations had enriched the Assembly’s consideration of the bill.

He said the Assembly remained committed to providing quality representation and enacting laws that would positively affect the lives of residents.

He said the Assembly remained committed to providing quality representation and enacting laws that would positively affect the lives of residents.

The Speaker added that the legislature would continue to support policies and programmes aimed at making life better, safer and more comfortable for the people of Ogun State.

The Speaker added that the legislature would continue to support policies and programmes aimed at making life better, safer and more comfortable for the people of Ogun State.

Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon Wahab Haruna, assured stakeholders that all memoranda and recommendations submitted during the public hearing, including those from WARDC and other partners, would be properly collated and considered during the clause-by-clause review of the bill.

Haruna said the Assembly would pursue legislation that is constitutional, implementable and compassionate, while balancing public health, human rights and the values of the people.

He stressed the importance of continued engagement with civil society organisations, professional bodies, traditional institutions and religious leaders to ensure broad-based ownership of the proposed legislation.

According to him, the bill is not intended to promote any particular agenda but to address preventable maternal deaths and promote safe motherhood in Ogun State.

The Executive Director of WARDC, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said the meeting was convened to examine key issues raised during the public hearing, identify areas of consensus and resolve outstanding concerns surrounding the proposed legislation.

Akiyode-Afolabi described maternal healthcare as a major global and national concern, noting that unsafe termination of pregnancy remains one of the contributors to maternal deaths.

She said the engagement represented another step in a collaborative process involving advocacy groups, government institutions, health professionals and other stakeholders towards developing an inclusive legislation capable of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity.

In her remarks, the Executive Director of GENDI, Prof Olubunmi Asimolowo, commended the Ogun Assembly for promoting dialogue and an inclusive legislative process.

She said the engagement demonstrated that good governance is strengthened when citizens and stakeholders are allowed to make meaningful contributions to law-making.

Asimolowo also commended the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon Wahab Haruna; the sponsor of the bill, Hon Lukman Atobatele; and other members of the Assembly for their commitment to the process.

She praised Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, for her support and evidence-based leadership in strengthening maternal and reproductive healthcare in the state.

The GENDI director also acknowledged the Permanent Secretary, the Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board and officials of the Ministry of Health for their technical contributions to the process.

She particularly commended WARDC for convening and supporting the review meeting, describing its technical expertise and sustained advocacy as instrumental to the progress recorded so far.

Asimolowo explained that the Safe Termination of Pregnancy Bill had undergone sustained advocacy, stakeholder consultations, technical engagements and public dialogue before successfully progressing through the first and second readings at the Ogun State House of Assembly.

She said the public hearing further demonstrated that unsafe abortion remains a significant public health concern and that protecting the lives and health of women and girls requires thoughtful and evidence-based legislation.

The GENDI director described the post-public hearing review as another significant milestone in the legislative journey, stressing that law-making should involve listening to stakeholders, building consensus and ensuring that legislative provisions are clear, practical and capable of addressing identified challenges.

She urged participants to approach the technical review with open minds and mutual respect, with the shared objective of producing legislation that is legally sound, medically appropriate and socially responsive.

Asimolowo, however expressed confidence that the collective expertise of lawmakers, health professionals, civil society organisations and other stakeholders would help produce legislation capable of reducing preventable maternal deaths while strengthening access to quality reproductive healthcare within the framework of the law.