Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu transmits 24 health-sector bills to the Senate, seeking sweeping reforms aimed at streamlining governance and improving service delivery across Nigeria’s health institutions.
The bills are read at plenary on Tuesday following a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in line with Section 58(2) of the Constitution.
Tinubu says the proposed legislation follows a comprehensive review of existing health laws conducted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, with approval from the Federal Executive Council.
“The amendments are designed to reduce over-bloated boards and improve efficiency, effectiveness and accountability,” the president says.
The bills affect a wide range of institutions, including teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, specialty hospitals and professional regulatory councils.
Affected agencies include the National Hospital for Women and Children, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Medical Laboratory Science Council, NAFDAC, the National Blood Service Agency and several specialist hospital boards.
Additional proposals include the Records Officers Registration and Digital Health Bill 2025 and the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Bill 2025.
After first reading, Akpabio refers all 24 bills to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for legislative processing.
Health policy experts say the reforms could improve governance but stress that legislative changes must be matched with funding and workforce support.
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