Ogun Assembly begins debate on Safe Pregnancy Termination Bill, promises thorough scrutiny
The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, has assured that the proposed Safe Termination of Pregnancy Law will undergo thorough legislative scrutiny to ensure it does not conflict with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any existing laws.
Elemide gave the assurance on Tuesday during the second reading of the bill titled, “H.B. No. 036/OG/2026 – Ogun State Safe Termination of Pregnancy Law, 2026,” at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
He explained that the bill is designed to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, promote safe motherhood and reproductive health rights, and establish the legal conditions for the safe termination of pregnancy in line with recognised legal indications.
The Speaker said the House Committee on Health and other relevant stakeholders would subject the proposed legislation to rigorous scrutiny to ensure it aligns with the Constitution and other applicable laws while achieving its intended policy objectives without creating legal conflicts or duplication.
Leading the debate, the sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Wahab Haruna, described the proposed law as a vital intervention to tackle the persistent challenge of maternal mortality and morbidity in Ogun State.
Haruna explained that the bill seeks to provide a clear legal and medical framework for pregnancy termination by qualified medical practitioners in approved health facilities, particularly in cases where the life of a pregnant woman is at risk.
Supporting the bill, Hon. Babatunde Tella said the legislation would encourage safe medical intervention in high-risk pregnancies where termination is medically recommended.
In his contributions, Hon. Lukman Adeleye added that it would align the state’s reproductive healthcare system with global best practices, provide a legal framework for pregnancy termination in legally recognised circumstances, protect victims of rape from further trauma, and help reduce maternal deaths.
Other lawmakers, including Oluseun Adesanya and Yusuf Sheriff, also backed the bill, saying it would improve access to essential reproductive health information and medical care for women. Following the debate, the House committed the bill to the Committee on Health for further legislative consideration.
