For successfully implementing program and policies geared towards impacting on the lives of Kogi populace, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Fatima Kabir Buba lauded Governor Yahaya Bello for assenting into the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, (VAPP) Bill.

Hajiya Buba says Governor Yahaya Bello’s commitment to the development of the state knows no bound, calling on the people to continued to render their unabated support and prayers to enable him do more.

The women affairs commissioner, in a statement described the development as a milestone in the history of Kogi State.

Global Times Nigeria report that the VAPP law provides a legislative and legal framework for the prevention of all forms of violence against vulnerable persons, especially women and girls.

Speaking further, the Commissioner described Governor Yahaya Bello as the most gender friendly Governor in the history of Nigeria said women and girls in the state will now be better protected by law from abuse and harmful practices.

She said kogi State Government had on June 27th 2022 announced the assent to the VAPP bill by Governor Bello.

Reacting to the passage, the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hajia Fatima Kabir Buba said, ” On behalf of Women and the good people of Kogi State, I commend his excellency, our amiable Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for making this VAPP bill a reality. Indeed, he has proven to the whole world that his administration remains committed towards giving life to the voiceless in Kogi State.

” Looking at the importance of this bill, our superb digital leader leaved no stone unturned towards ensuring that the right of the people is protected irrespective of their background. Kogi Women and the entire people of our dear State will forever be indented to you for making us proud among comity of State.

“Am also using this medium to appreciate the efforts of the state assembly, civil society organisations and all critical stakeholders who were instrumental to this process.

“Indeed, the efforts of these grassroots organisations as pioneers of change and the high political will of the executive and legislative arms of governance within the state is what has resulted in the milestone passage of the VAPP law in Kogi State.

“This important landmark reflects the state’s commitment to ensuring dignity and justice to vulnerable members of its society.

“With the passage of the Bill, citizens of Kogi State (especially its women and girls), are now better protected by law from abuse and harmful practices”.

She noted that the Kogi State Government is committed to fully enforcement of the VAPP Law in the state.

“We would like to remind all stakeholders (state and non-state actors, community leaders, religious leaders, disability rights groups, women and youth-led organisations, law enforcement agencies, media organisations among others) to sustain efforts around disseminating the provisions of the Kogi State VAPP law.

“We use this opportunity to encourage states that have not yet passed the VAPP law to do so as a way of prioritizing the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5 on women’s rights and empowerment”.

Buba said that access to justice is a critical element that would be essential to the success of the VAPP law.

“It is time to finally put an end to the continuing culture of silence and impunity.

“There is need to ensure that perpetrators of violence are severely punished according to the provisions of the VAPP Law and all relevant stakeholders are held accountable towards ensuring the implementation of the law in its full effect and used for the benefit of the community members especially women and girls”, Buba noted