President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted 24 amendment bills to the Senate, seeking far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s health sector.
The bills were forwarded in line with Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and were formally read during Tuesday’s plenary session by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
In a letter accompanying the bills, President Tinubu explained that the proposals emerged from a comprehensive legal review of existing health laws conducted by the Attorney-General of the Federation in collaboration with the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and subsequently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
According to the President, the proposed amendments are aimed at streamlining board structures, reducing bloated memberships across health institutions, and enhancing efficiency, accountability, and service delivery within the sector.
“The proposed bills are designed to enhance the governance of various health sector agencies and institutions, strengthen service delivery and accountability, and ensure more efficient use of public health resources,” Tinubu stated.
The amendment bills cover major health institutions and regulatory bodies, including the National Hospital for Women and Children, Federal Medical Centres, National Specialty Hospitals Management Board, Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board, National Eye Centre, National Ear Care Centre, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Blood Service Agency, among others.
Additional legislative proposals transmitted by the President include the Records Officers Registration and Digital Health Bill 2025, as well as the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Bill 2025.
Following the reading of the President’s letter, the Senate President referred the 24 bills to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative processing.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the Senate would give the bills careful consideration, describing them as critical to building a more resilient, efficient, and responsive healthcare system for Nigerians.
