The House of Representatives has concurred with the recently publicized signal from the Office of the Inspector-General of Police to various formations and commands of the Nigeria Police Force on the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.
The internal memo dated October 25, 2023, directed the officers to comply with the law and enforce its provisions without hesitation.
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The memo signed by the IGP’s Principal Staff Officer, CSP Olatunji Disu, is the directive to the various police formations and commands to “make the law a subject of lecture” in order to cure the ignorance in many hospitals about the position of the law, which unfortunately has led to the loss of many lives.
The House lauded this directive in a statement jointly signed by the chairman, Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Makki Abubakar Yalleman, and spokesperson, Hon. Akin Rotimi, in Abuja yesterday.
They said issues around compliance with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act recently became a subject of public discourse following the death of Ms. Greatness Olorunfemi, a brilliant Nigerian who was the victim of a one-chance robbery in Abuja on September 26.
According to the lawmakers, a petition was laid before the House in respect of this incident during plenary on October 10 by Hon. Chris Nkwonta from Abia State, and the matter is now before the House Committee on Public Petitions.
“To be clear, the House maintains that the professional calling of physicians, nurses, and emergency care personnel, as well as the dictates of extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, prescribe that every Nigerian brought to any hospital deserves the duty of care, stabilization, and dignity, regardless of the condition they are brought in or the apparent cause of the distress or trauma.
“The House therefore views this development from the Nigeria Police Force as timely and commendable considering rising complaints by Nigerians about hospitals that decline prompt treatment of victims of gunshot incidents, robberies, and even vehicular accidents who do not present police reports.
“The IG’s action offers relief that value is placed on the life of every citizen and restores confidence in our hospitals,” the statement reads.
The House urged the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Medical Association to follow through on this commitment to strict compliance with the Act and prosecute offenders who contravene the same.