FG Moves to Scrap Criminal Penalty for Attempted Suicide

Federal Executive Council

FG Moves to Scrap Criminal Penalty for Attempted Suicide

The Federal Government has commenced moves to remove the criminal penalty for attempted suicide in Nigeria, following the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of its position on the decriminalisation of suicide attempts.

The proposed reform represents a major shift in the government’s approach to people who survive suicide attempts, with the focus expected to move from criminal punishment to mental healthcare, psychosocial support, protection and timely intervention.

However, attempted suicide remains a criminal offence under the existing legal framework until the proposed amendments are considered and passed by the National Assembly.

The development was announced in Abuja during an event organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to commemorate the 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day, themed “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” with the call to action, “Start the Conversation.”

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, said the FEC approval followed the work of the National Task Force on Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide.

The task force has conducted consultations, policy engagements and advocacy involving government institutions, legal experts, mental health professionals, civil society organisations, development partners and people with lived experience of mental health challenges and suicidal behaviour.

Salako described the proposed decriminalisation of attempted suicide as more than a legal reform, saying it was also a public health and human rights imperative.

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He said people experiencing a mental health crisis should receive care, support and appropriate intervention rather than punishment.

According to the minister, removing the fear of prosecution could encourage people experiencing severe emotional or psychological distress to seek help without worrying that they could be arrested or prosecuted after surviving a suicide attempt.

The minister expressed optimism that the legislative process would be concluded without unnecessary delay once the proposal is transmitted to the National Assembly.

He said the Federal Government was also working to expand access to mental healthcare by integrating mental health services into other parts of the healthcare system, particularly primary healthcare.

As part of the effort, Standard Operating Procedures for integrating mental health services into HIV care are being developed, while the National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme has been directed to prepare a memorandum for consideration by the National Council on Health on integrating mental healthcare into primary healthcare.

The government said taking mental health services closer to communities would help people who have limited access to specialist psychiatric facilities and other dedicated mental health services.

The proposed legal reform is expected to affect provisions of Nigeria’s existing criminal laws that make attempted suicide punishable. Under the current framework, attempted suicide is criminalised under provisions including Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 231 of the Penal Code.

The Federal Government has argued that maintaining criminal sanctions for suicide attempts is inconsistent with the more supportive approach contained in the National Mental Health Act 2021, which recognises the need for protection and treatment for people experiencing mental health challenges.

The move to change the law was preceded by extensive consultations by the National Task Force, which was established to examine the legal, medical, social and human rights implications of criminalising attempted suicide.

The task force has also undertaken stakeholder engagements and advocacy involving health professionals, lawmakers, legal practitioners, civil society groups and other relevant organisations as part of efforts to build support for the proposed reform.

However, stakeholders at the Abuja event warned that decriminalising attempted suicide would not by itself solve Nigeria’s suicide crisis.

A representative of the Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, Prof. Taiwo Lateef Sheik, said criminalisation was only one aspect of the problem and called for a comprehensive national suicide-prevention strategy.

He advocated improved collection and reporting of suicide and suicidal behaviour data, crisis intervention services, dedicated funding for suicide prevention, specialised training for healthcare workers and first responders, and full implementation of the National Mental Health Act 2021.

Sheik said Nigeria had set a target of reducing suicide deaths and attempts by 50 per cent by 2030, stressing that legal reform alone could not achieve the objective.

The group also called for stronger emergency response mechanisms capable of providing immediate support to people experiencing suicidal crises.

President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Dr Veronica Oluyemisi Nyamali, raised concerns about the country’s mental health workforce, saying the number of available professionals remains inadequate.

She noted that the sector was being affected by the migration of healthcare professionals, while some medical residents were also abandoning psychiatric training.

Nyamali said removing the criminal penalty could make it easier for people experiencing psychological distress to seek help, but stressed that decriminalisation must be accompanied by adequate mental health services.

She said people who reach out for assistance must be able to access qualified professionals, appropriate treatment and follow-up support.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also called for greater attention to people affected by conflict and violence, who often face additional barriers to accessing mental healthcare.

An ICRC official, Juan Carlos, noted that insecurity, distance and the cost of treatment could prevent vulnerable people from obtaining the support they need.

Civil society organisations similarly urged the government to look beyond medical treatment and address the social and economic factors that can contribute to suicidal behaviour.

Speaking on behalf of people living with HIV in Nigeria, Isah Takuma called for mental healthcare to become an integral part of HIV services rather than an optional or secondary intervention.

He urged the government to strengthen the integration of mental health support into HIV programmes as part of its wider healthcare reform agenda.

The Federal Ministry of Health said Nigeria’s suicide-prevention efforts were anchored on the National Mental Health Act 2021, the National Mental Health Policy 2023 and the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2023–2030.

The ministry has also stressed the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations about mental health and suicide.

According to the ministry, figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that Nigeria records more than 7,000 suicide deaths and about 300,000 suicide attempts annually, highlighting the scale of the country’s mental health and suicide-prevention challenge.

The government has consequently called for greater cooperation among healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, faith and traditional leaders, the media, academia, youth organisations and other stakeholders.

The 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day campaign seeks to change public attitudes towards suicide by replacing stigma, fear and misinformation with compassion, understanding and timely support.

The proposed reform is therefore intended not only to change the legal status of attempted suicide but also to encourage people experiencing emotional or psychological distress to seek help earlier.

Until the National Assembly considers and passes the proposed amendments and they become law, however, the existing criminal provisions remain in force.

The Federal Government’s stated objective is to create a system in which people experiencing mental health crises are treated primarily as individuals requiring care, protection and support, while strengthening the country’s wider suicide prevention and mental healthcare system.