The Executive Director of Initiative for Grassroot Advancement in Nigeria, Hamza Aliyu, has urged the Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo to assent to the HIV Anti–Stigma Bill passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly in June this year.
The director made this call in Lokoja at a one-day media roundtable for advancing the HIV stigma bill and addressing issues around stigma reduction.
He said the state government should ensure that the rights of the over three hundred thousand people living with HIV /AIDs in the state should be protected.
Aliyu explained that the objective of the bill, when assented to by the Governor, would prevent new infections and would also help against stigmatization.
“The law, which Is broad-based, protects the rights and dignity of HIV affected persons and eliminate all forms of discrimination.
“The law creates a supportive environment for people living with HIV and AIDs as well as create a safe and working environment for affected person.
“The law also gives an employer the right to take an affirmative action on requirements for a job noted as it also provided penalty for noncompliance with the law.”
Explaining that when passed into Law, discrimination against HIV /AIDs persons carries a repercussion of a N500,000 fine or Two years’ imprisonment; and in some cases both a fine and jail term.
