The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a
bill for a law to ban smoking in public places.
The bill, which was passed on Monday, has been
sent to the executive arm of the government for the
governor’s ascent.
The bill, which scaled through the third reading,
prohibits anybody smoking in all public places such
as libraries, museum, public toilets, schools,
hospital, day care centres, public transportation and
restaurants among others.
The bill stipulated penalties for violating the
restriction, ranging from N10,000 to N50,000 fines
or imprisonment.
A statement by the Assembly on Monday said the
bill consisted of 16 sections, which explained the
regulation of smoking in public places.
It read in parts, “In section 12, posting of signs with
‘No Smoking’ symbol, depicts a pictorial
representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a
circle with a bar across. It shall be prominently
posted and properly maintained where smoking is
regulated by the law, by the owner, occupier or
person in charge of a ‘No – Smoking Area.’
“Section 4: Duty of owner/occupier, says that it
shall be the duty of those who own or occupies
public places to ensure that approved ‘No –
Smoking’ signs are displayed conspicuously at each
entrance and in prominent locations throughout the
premises.
“Penalties for smoking in a ‘No-Smoking area’ will
be a N10,000 fine or imprisonment for a term not
less than one month and not exceeding three
months or both.
“Any person who repeatedly violates the provisions
shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N50, 000 or
six month imprisonment or both.”
The bill also stated that the penalty for non-
compliance by owner/occupier of a ‘No – smoking
area’ would be N100, 000 or six month
imprisonment, or other non-custodial punishment
that the judge might deem fit.
“It shall be an offence to obstruct a duly authorised
officer from carrying out his duties under the
provision of this law,” the statement said.
It added that the law further stated that any person
who smoked in the presence of a child had
committed an offence and would be liable, on
conviction, to a fine of N15,000 or imprisonment for
a month or both.
PUNCH NG.
bill for a law to ban smoking in public places.
The bill, which was passed on Monday, has been
sent to the executive arm of the government for the
governor’s ascent.
The bill, which scaled through the third reading,
prohibits anybody smoking in all public places such
as libraries, museum, public toilets, schools,
hospital, day care centres, public transportation and
restaurants among others.
The bill stipulated penalties for violating the
restriction, ranging from N10,000 to N50,000 fines
or imprisonment.
A statement by the Assembly on Monday said the
bill consisted of 16 sections, which explained the
regulation of smoking in public places.
It read in parts, “In section 12, posting of signs with
‘No Smoking’ symbol, depicts a pictorial
representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a
circle with a bar across. It shall be prominently
posted and properly maintained where smoking is
regulated by the law, by the owner, occupier or
person in charge of a ‘No – Smoking Area.’
“Section 4: Duty of owner/occupier, says that it
shall be the duty of those who own or occupies
public places to ensure that approved ‘No –
Smoking’ signs are displayed conspicuously at each
entrance and in prominent locations throughout the
premises.
“Penalties for smoking in a ‘No-Smoking area’ will
be a N10,000 fine or imprisonment for a term not
less than one month and not exceeding three
months or both.
“Any person who repeatedly violates the provisions
shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N50, 000 or
six month imprisonment or both.”
The bill also stated that the penalty for non-
compliance by owner/occupier of a ‘No – smoking
area’ would be N100, 000 or six month
imprisonment, or other non-custodial punishment
that the judge might deem fit.
“It shall be an offence to obstruct a duly authorised
officer from carrying out his duties under the
provision of this law,” the statement said.
It added that the law further stated that any person
who smoked in the presence of a child had
committed an offence and would be liable, on
conviction, to a fine of N15,000 or imprisonment for
a month or both.
PUNCH NG.
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