Senate Approves Life Imprisonment for Defiling Minors, House Probes $4.6 Billion Health Grants
The Senate has approved life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor, marking a significant increase from the previous five-year jail term under Nigeria’s criminal code. The Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, also raises the minimum sentence for rape and related sexual offences to 10 years, while allowing judges to impose stiffer penalties in aggravated cases. The amendment recognises both male and female victims and reflects a broader effort to impose harsher punishments for sexual offences.
Debate on abortion and pregnancy termination provisions in the bill, however, was postponed after concerns were raised that vague language could criminalise medical practitioners acting in emergencies. The Senate has directed the relevant committee to review these sections within two weeks.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives launched an investigation into the utilisation of $4.6 billion in grants received from the Global Fund and USAID for Nigeria’s fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and polio. The Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control has been tasked with examining the grants disbursed between 2021 and 2025 and reporting back within four weeks. Lawmakers also requested that the Health Ministry provide the implementation plan and detailed expenditure reports.
The House also debated a motion aimed at protecting strategic private investments, including the Dangote Refinery, from disruptive labour union activities. The motion followed a recent industrial dispute between the refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which disrupted production and led to significant daily losses.
After discussions, the House opted for direct mediation between Dangote Group and PENGASSAN, with the Speaker and House leadership tasked to engage both parties and resolve the dispute through dialogue, dropping earlier calls for immediate enforcement by government ministries.
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