Governors Ask NASS to Drop Infectious Diseases Bill

• "Bill Must Undergo Public Hearing"

The Nigeria Governors Forum led by Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has asked the National Assembly to step down the Infectious Diseases Bill sponsored by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila. This is to allow for wider consultations with stakeholders.

The Bill seeks to ensure compulsory vaccination of citizens against infectious diseases, make possession of health card mandatory for international travellers leaving or arriving in Nigeria just like yellow fever card and repeal the Quarantine Act.

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Fayemi in a statement he signed, on Wednesday, after a virtual meeting with other Governors called for the bill to be stepped down pending an appropriate public hearing to gather public opinion and concerns.

The NGF also set up a three-member committee made up of governors Aminu Masari (Katsina), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Simon Lalong (Plateau) to meet with the leadership of the National Assembly over the issue.

This was contained in a communique signed by the Chairman of the forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, after the 8th COVID-19 teleconference meeting of the NGF held on Wednesday. The communique was issued on Thursday.

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Following an update from the Governor of Sokoto State and Vice Chairman of the NGF, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on the proposed Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020 introduced by the House of Representatives, Governors raised concern with the lack of consultation with State governments who are at the forefront of the epidemic.

“In the light of this, the Forum established a Committee comprising the Governors of Katsina, Sokoto, and Plateau to lead a consultative meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on the proposed Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020.

“The NGF Secretariat was also mandated to comprehensively review the Bill and its implication on States.”

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The bill has since its introduction drawn controversies with civil society groups questioning the powers it vests in the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the health minister to make regulations on quarantining, vaccination and prevention of infectious diseases in Nigeria. The bill with 82 sections scaled second reading before it was stood down.

The Forum resolved that the Bill should be stepped down until an appropriate consultative process is held, including a public hearing to gather public opinion and concerns.

The governors, who also expressed concerns over the rising cases of COVID-19 cases across the nation, resolved to among other things, work in collaboration with the Dangote Foundation to set up and train a volunteer health workforce and increase the tempo of setting up isolation centres.

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They also resolved to make available additional warehouses to store palliatives donated by the private sector and ensure that such donations get to the most vulnerable people in each state.

The governors also agreed to take additional measures to strengthen their public financial management systems, including a revision of their 2020 budgets and the amendment of State procurement guidelines to support e-procurement and the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises.

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