FG MOVES TO DECRIMINALISE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, SECURES FEC APPROVAL
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal Government has taken a major step towards decriminalising attempted suicide in Nigeria following the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the position of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on the matter.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day, held under the theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.”
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S., the minister said the matter would now proceed to the National Assembly for the necessary legislative process.
He expressed optimism that the process would be concluded without delay.
Salako described the decriminalisation of attempted suicide as both a legal reform and a public health and human rights imperative, stressing that people experiencing mental health crises should receive care and support rather than punishment.
“A person experiencing a mental health crisis should be met with care, support and appropriate intervention, rather than punishment,” he said.
According to him, removing the fear of criminal sanctions could help reduce stigma, encourage people to seek help and create greater opportunities for timely intervention.
While describing the FEC approval as a major milestone, Salako emphasised that legislation alone would not prevent suicide, stressing the need for sustained investment in mental health services, early identification and intervention, community support and public awareness.
“We must continue to strengthen mental health services, expand access to quality care, promote early identification and intervention, support persons with lived experience, empower communities and foster open conversations that replace fear and discrimination with empathy and hope,” he said.
Salako said the Federal Government’s action was consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health system, saving lives, reducing suffering and improving access to quality healthcare.
He noted that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had continued to strengthen the national response to mental health and suicide prevention through key policy and legal instruments, including the National Mental Health Act, 2021, National Mental Health Policy, 2023, and National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2023–2030.
The minister disclosed that the ministry had also established the National Task Force on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide, comprising stakeholders from government, academia, professional associations, civil society organisations, development partners and persons with lived experience.
He said the task force had conducted extensive stakeholder consultations, engaged policymakers across the three arms of government, developed a Government White Paper to guide decision-making, and undertaken advocacy, sensitisation and public awareness activities on suicide prevention and decriminalisation.
Salako called on government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, faith-based and traditional leaders, the media, academia, healthcare professionals, youth organisations and Nigerians to join the Federal Government in changing the narrative on suicide.
He reiterated that suicide prevention was a shared responsibility.
Earlier, Director of Public Health, Dr Charles Nzelu, represented by the National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, Dr Adebobola Bashorun, said the ministry remained committed to providing strategic leadership and coordination for mental health promotion and suicide prevention.
Nzelu said the ministry’s commitments included strengthening mental health services, integrating mental healthcare into primary healthcare, building the capacity of health workers, expanding community-based interventions and strengthening partnerships.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts towards decriminalising attempted suicide, noting that the National Task Force had facilitated stakeholder engagement, evidence generation, policy dialogue, advocacy, sensitisation and public awareness.
According to him, the process had brought together government institutions, legal experts, mental health professionals, civil society organisations, development partners, youth representatives and persons with lived experience.
Nzelu urged Nigerians to create an environment where people could speak openly about their mental health, express their emotions and seek help early without fear of stigma or discrimination.
He said the World Suicide Prevention Day commemoration was an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, exchange knowledge, raise awareness and mobilise concrete action towards preventing suicide in Nigeria.
In his goodwill message, Mental Health Programme Manager at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Nigeria, Dr Akanmu Mujitaba, described suicide as a significant public health concern.
He disclosed that more than 700,000 people die by suicide globally each year, with over 70 per cent of the deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Mujitaba said the World Health Organisation estimated that Nigeria records more than 7,000 suicide deaths and about 300,000 suicide attempts annually.
He said the figures represented families and communities affected by preventable loss, stressing that suicide could be prevented when systems, policies and compassion worked together.
While reaffirming CHAI’s support for suicide prevention efforts, Mujitaba commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Mental Health Programme for the milestone.
He described the FEC approval as the beginning of the legislative process and urged the ministry to sustain efforts towards securing full passage of the proposed reform.
World Suicide Prevention Day is observed annually on September 10 to raise awareness about suicide prevention and promote collective action to reduce suicide and suicidal behaviour globally.
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