By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
The Oyo State House of Assembly has pledged an accelerated legislative process for the Oyo State Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion (Prevention and Regulation) Bill, 2025, in a strategic bid to curb maternal mortality and safeguard the lives of young women across the state.
The legislative commitment was made on Wednesday during a well-attended public hearing held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, which drew a diverse gathering of stakeholders, including medical practitioners, civil society organizations, legal experts, women’s groups, and youth representatives.
The engagement, jointly convened by the House Committees on Health and Women Affairs and Community Development, served as a platform for stakeholders to submit memoranda and fine-tune the proposed legislation.
Addressing the assembly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Rilwan Saminu, stated that the bill aims to establish a robust framework for prevention, public awareness, and support services. He noted that the legislation is designed to stem the tide of unplanned pregnancies, which often truncate the educational and career aspirations of young girls.
“The House will ensure that any law enacted serves the best interest of the people of Oyo State while promoting public health, protecting lives, and strengthening family and community values,” Saminu assured.
Echoing these sentiments, the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, Hon. Olufunke Olajide, emphasized that prevention remains the core strategy of the proposed law.
She noted that the bill is nearing its final legislative stages, adding, “Families bear the heavy burden of school dropouts and health complications affecting our daughters, while communities face additional social and economic strain. We are confident the House will do justice to this bill, and we anticipate that Governor Seyi Makinde will sign it into law once passed.”
Representing the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, advocated for stronger legal accountability for survivors of rape and incest, as well as improved access to confidential, quality healthcare.
Dr. Ajetunmobi highlighted a troubling trend, noting that the lack of skills and appropriate technology for safe medical procedures has worsened complications arising from induced abortions.
“Comprehensive abortion care—including information, management of pregnancy loss, and post-abortion care—is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) regarding health and gender equality,” the commissioner noted, adding that the state’s health system must be equipped to manage these realities effectively.
The Oyo State Ministry of Justice also threw its weight behind the bill, describing it as a “timely and progressive” initiative. In its submission, the Ministry noted that if thoughtfully implemented, the law holds the potential to significantly reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, while upholding the reproductive rights and dignity of women and girls in Oyo State.
As the bill proceeds toward its third reading, stakeholders have charged the Assembly to rigorously examine all submitted recommendations to ensure the final law is legally sound, internally consistent, and practically implementable for the benefit of all citizens.
