Oyo Lawmaker, Comforter Olajide Champions Motion to Enhance Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

In a renewed push to improve the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in Oyo State, the lawmaker representing Ibadan North I State Constituency, Hon. Olufunke Comforter Olajide, has led a motion on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly to amend the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Response Agency and Referral Centre Law, 2022.

Co-sponsored by Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin (Ibarapa East), Hon. S.A. Onaolapo (Ogbomoso South), Hon. A.A. Ogundare (Surulere/Ogo Oluwa), and Hon. A.O. Babalola (Ibadan North East I), the motion seeks to address key gaps that have hampered the effectiveness of the law, which was originally enacted in 2022 to protect vulnerable populations and ensure access to justice for survivors.

“Notes that the Oyo State House of Assembly enacted the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Response Agency Law in 2022 to protect vulnerable populations and ensure justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence across the State.

“Further notes that the law established the Oyo State Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Agency to coordinate SGBV response, ensure access to justice and provide survivor-centered services and inter-ministerial synergy in SGBV response across the State.”

The motion acknowledges the significant step taken by the Assembly in 2022 with the establishment of the Oyo State SGBV Response Agency, a body tasked with coordinating justice delivery, survivor-centered services, and multi-agency collaboration.

However, Hon. Olajide noted that glaring structural and administrative bottlenecks have emerged since the law’s implementation.

“Aware that structural and administrative gaps have been observed since the operationalization of the law particularly fragmentation between the SGBV Response Agency and the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) situated at Jericho Nursing Home. This undermines the holistic and integrated service delivery expected from a one-stop response mechanism.”

One of the key concerns raised is the fragmentation between the SGBV Response Agency and the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) located at the Jericho Nursing Home.

This disconnect, lawmakers observed, has compromised the envisioned “one-stop” service model, leaving survivors to navigate disjointed pathways for medical, psychosocial, and legal support.

To resolve these systemic issues, the motion proposes bold administrative reforms, beginning with the relocation of the SGBV Response Agency from its current placement under the Ministry of Justice to the Office of the First Lady of Oyo State.

“Placing the Agency under the Office of the First Lady would elevate its public profile, bolster political will, and enable integrated interventions through wider donor and development partner engagement,” Hon. Olajide emphasized while presenting the motion.”

Another significant proposal involves the appointment of an Executive Secretary with relevant technical expertise on a rotational basis from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, or Ministry of Health.

This measure, according to the motion, would deepen inter-sectoral cooperation, streamline case management, and ensure more effective victim-centered responses.

The House unanimously resolved to : commence the process of amending the Oyo State Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Agency Law, 2022, to reflect the structural realignments proposed in the motion, direct the House Committees on Women Affairs and Public Petitions, Justice and Judiciary to interface with the Ministries of Justice, Women Affairs, Social Inclusion, and other critical stakeholders for a collaborative review and amendment process and task the Post Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) Unit with evaluating the implementation progress of the 2022 Law and recommending measures to enhance its impact.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, lauded the initiative, stating that the proposed amendment marks a significant shift in addressing the rising tide of gender-based violence in the state.

“By strengthening coordination and putting survivors at the center of service delivery, we are ensuring that justice is not delayed and that no victim walks alone,” he remarked.