Barring unforeseen circumstances, the House of Representatives has concluded arrangements to hold a public hearing on the vexatious Infectious Diseases Control Bill between June 10 and 11, 2020.

The joint House Committees on Health care services, Health Instituions and Justice will conduct the two day hearing on A Bill For An Act To Repeal The Quarantine Act And Enact The Control Of Infectious Diseases Act, Make Provisions Relating To Quarantine And Make Regulations For Preventing The Introduction Into And Spread In Nigeria Of Dangerous Infectious Diseases, And For Other Related Matters (HB 836).

The committees have extended invitations to over 60 organisations and institutions of government to participate in the public hearing. They are requested to send One (1) soft copy in a flash drive and Fifty (50) hard copies of each typed memorandum which should be addressed to The Deputy Director/Clerk Committee on Health Care Services in H102, after Committee Room 17, 1st Floor, white House, House of Representatives Wings, National Assembly Complex, Abuja not later than Monday 1st June 2020.

Since its introduction on the floor of the House by the Speaker Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, the bill has been enmeshed in different controversies including that of plagiarism from a similar bill in Singapore to that of bribery. Another contention is the power vested in the Director General of the NCDC in the bill which human rights activists described as excessive for an unelected executive.

The Public Hearing according to the committees will be conducted in line with COVID-19 Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines with strict adherence to wearing of face mask and observance of social distancing.

The committees have invited memoranda from the public and particularly from the following stakeholders: Nigerian Governors Forum, Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Chief Justice of Nigeria, World Health Organization (WHO), Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Human Right Commission, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, National Association of Resident Doctor (NARD), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Board of Community Health Practitioners Council, Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and Optometry Council of Nigeria,

Also invited are Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professional (NUAHP), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), College of Pathologist of Nigeria, Traditional Rulers of the 6 Geo-Political Zones, Traditional Medicine Association of Nigeria, National Association of Epidemiologists, Nigeria Agriculture Quarantine Service, National Association of Microbiologists, National Association of Chemists, National Association of Nigeria Nurses & Midwives (NANNAM), Public Health Practitioners and Association of Airline Operators.

Others are, Port Health Workers, Shippers Council of Nigeria, Vessel Owners Association, Magistrate Association of Nigeria, Scientist Association of Nigeria, African Union through African Centre for Disease Control, Dangote Foundation, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria, National Council of Women Society (NCWC), Representative of Coalition of Civil Societies (CSOs) and the General Public.

The General Public is also advised to follow the Public Hearing on the following social Media Accounts: YouTube live, Facebook and Twitter.

The invitation was signed by Hon (Dr) Tanko Sununu for health care services committee, Hon Pascal Obi for Health committee and Hon Ugonna Ozuruigbo for committee on Justice Institution.