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NCDC and Stakeholders Call for Expedited Health Bill Action from Presidency and National Assembly
- October 31, 2023
- Posted by: Admin
- Category: Health Health tips National Health Daily News update

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other stakeholders are urging the Nigerian presidency and the National Assembly to accelerate the passage of health bills aimed at strengthening the nation’s healthcare sector. The call was made during the Quarterly meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) focused on implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR) in Nigeria. The meeting, held in collaboration with the NGO ‘Resolve to Save Lives,’ is part of efforts to align Nigeria with IHR requirements.
The TWG serves as a collective think tank responsible for supervising and evaluating the implementation of the 2005 International Health Regulations within Nigeria. It assesses Nigeria’s progress in implementing IHR and provides insights into legal developments related to public health security.
Legal Adviser for NCDC, Safiya Musa, emphasized the urgency of expediting the passage and assent to health bills to enhance the effectiveness of Nigeria’s healthcare sector. These bills include the NCDC Act Amendment Bill, the Port Health Services Bill, and the Quarantine Bill, all currently before the National Assembly. The Public Health Emergency Bill has been passed and is awaiting presidential assent.
Musa underscored the significance of IHR, an international law instrument to which Nigeria is a signatory. It was adopted by the World Health Organization in 2005 to address emerging and re-emerging diseases that can cross borders. Musa explained that disease pathogens are not confined by borders, and international collaboration is crucial.
NCDC conducted a comprehensive mapping of federal laws to ensure compliance with IHR. They discovered several gaps and obsolete laws dating back to 1926 in certain sectors. Some areas lacked any legislation addressing IHR issues. NCDC, as a focal agency for IHR, is working on reforming outdated laws and introducing new ones to address public health outbreaks.
Musa stressed that these legal instruments play a crucial role in public health outcomes and preparedness. Fast-tracking the legal instruments before the National Assembly is vital for global outbreak preparedness and response.
She commended the National Assembly for their efforts in reforming public health security laws and called on them to provide further support by expediting the legislative process. Nigeria’s commitment to IHR mandates that it have laws in place to prepare for disease outbreaks. The working group of experts from various sectors monitors and evaluates Nigeria’s health security laws.