The Niger State House of Assembly has passed a bill to establish an agency for the registration and regulation of private health facilities in Niger State. This bill aims to regulate private health facilities, eliminate quackery, and ensure quality and affordable healthcare services for the state’s population.
The bill’s passage followed the presentation of the House Standing Committee on Health, Nutrition, and Primary Health Care report by Chairman Pharm. Umar Nasir, representing Paikoro Constituency. Nasir informed the House that the committee had engaged relevant stakeholders to discuss the proposed bill.
The committee found that the bill seeks to establish an agency to regulate private health facilities and their practices, complementing government healthcare services. The regulation of private practice is long overdue and will address various challenges while improving healthcare quality in line with global best practices.
Nasir added that the bill would ensure the maintenance of professional ethics in medical practices and provide an accurate database to guide healthcare provision and policy management in private medical practice.
Following the presentation, the House moved into a Committee of the Whole to consider the bill clause by clause. The bill was subsequently adopted and approved through a unanimous vote by the lawmakers. The speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji, commended the chairman and members for their efforts.
In a similar development, the Assembly passed a bill to establish the Penal Code Law of the State to penalise crimes and address related matters. This decision followed the presentation of the House Standing Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters report by Chairman Hon. Engr. Abdulrahman Bala Gambo, representing Borgu Constituency.
Gambo informed the House that the committee had studied the proposed bill, which seeks to review the Penal Bill, Law (Cap. 94) Laws of Niger State, 1989. The bill aims to provide for the speedy dispensation of justice and strengthen criminal administration procedures.