As the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) turns 10 today (27 Feb 2015), the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called on the National Assembly to expedite work on, and pass the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB).
The 180 Parties to the treaty, including Nigeria are urged to mark the anniversary with a recommitment to fighting the devastating health, social, economic and environmental consequences of tobacco and tobacco use.
Nigeria signed the FCTC in 2004 and ratified it in 2005. Efforts to domesticate the treaty in form of the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) suffered a setback in 2011 when it went through the readings, scaled Public Hearings and was passed by the Senate and House of Representatives but was not signed by President Goodluck Jonathan.
A renewed attempt to pass the bill is currently on but is still suffering from tobacco industry attempts to ensure only a weak legislation is passed.
In a statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN Director, Corporate Accountability and Administration, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “As we join the rest of the world to celebrate the tenth year anniversary of the FCTC we are renewing our call for the National Assembly to pass the NTCB into law without further delays”
“The health of our citizens continues to hang in the balance as the National Assembly delays the passage of the bill. The tobacco industry is very content with the delays and hiccups bedeviling the passage. The anniversary should therefore be a wakeup call for our lawmakers to expedite action and take this life-saving treaty serious”
Life-saving provisions of the FCTC which can cut down growing tobacco-induced deaths which the WHO puts at 5.4 million annually include price and tax measures, ban on Tobacco Advertising Promotion and Sponsorships (TAPS), provisions of packaging labeling, ban on sale to minors, among others.
The WHO says that full implementation of the FCTCwill support global commitments to achieving a 25 percent reduction in premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by 2025, including a 30 percent reduction in prevalence of tobacco use in persons aged 15 years and over.