Senate passes bills to establish teaching hospitals in Kaduna, Benue

The Senate on Wednesday passed two bills seeking to establish teaching hospitals in Kachia, Kaduna State, and Otukpo area of Benue State.

The bills were passed after consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Health, Secondary and Tertiary Education, presented by Senator Abdul Ningi (ADC-Bauchi Central) on behalf of its chairman, Senator Banigo Ipalibo Harry (APC-Rivers West).

The bills passed included the Federal University of Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital, Kachia, Kaduna State; and the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, Benue State.

Presenting the reports, Ningi said the committee had examined the provisions of both bills, consulted legal drafting experts, and scrutinised the proposals clause by clause.

Ningi said the proposed teaching hospitals would help address the shortage of medical personnel and strengthen healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The lawmaker added that the Kaduna bill sought to amend the First Schedule of the principal Act to include the Federal University of Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital, Kachia.

He said the Benue bill would similarly amend the first schedule to provide legal backing for the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo.

The committee recommended that the Senate consider and pass both bills after consideration.

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The Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP-Benue South), seconded the motion for consideration of the committee’s report and supported the recommendation for the establishment of the teaching hospitals.

The Senate subsequently dissolved into the Committee of the Whole, and considered the bills clause by clause.

At the committee of the Whole, the lawmakers approved the relevant clauses of both bills as recommended and passed the bills after their considerations

Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the Senate Committee on Health, Secondary and Tertiary Education and for their contributions to the passage of the bills.

Akpabio said the legislation would improve healthcare delivery, particularly in the states where the hospitals would be established.