The House Committee on Delegated Legislation has reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering Nigeria’s health security by reviewing and improving the legal framework governing the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
As part of its legislative oversight functions, the committee, led by its chairman, Hon. Olufemi Bamisile visited the NCDC headquarters in Abuja to assess the effectiveness of the agency’s regulatory structure in disease prevention, surveillance, and emergency response.
During the visit, Bamisile emphasised the importance of a strong legal foundation for the NCDC to function effectively, particularly in managing disease outbreaks and safeguarding public health. He stated that the committee’s review would focus on subsidiary legislations that guide the agency’s operations. The objective, he noted, is to ensure that NCDC has the necessary regulatory backing to carry out its mandate efficiently.
“Our purpose for visiting today is to gain a deeper understanding of the subsidiary legislations that guide your operations,” Bamisile said. “These regulations form the backbone of NCDC’s ability to execute its mandate effectively – from disease surveillance and response to public health promotion and epidemiological research.”
He commended the NCDC for its role in combating health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Lassa fever outbreaks and other infectious disease threats. He assured that the committee would work to refine existing laws and propose new legislative measures to enhance the agency’s effectiveness in managing public health crises.
Receiving the lawmakers, NCDC director-general, Dr. Jide Idris reiterated the agency’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s health security and emergency preparedness. He highlighted four key focus areas essential to the agency’s mission: strengthening disease prevention through public health education and vaccination programmes, enhancing real-time monitoring and early detection of outbreaks, expanding laboratory capacity for accurate and timely disease diagnosis and improving coordination mechanisms for rapid intervention in health emergencies.
Idris also aligned the agency’s priorities with the federal government’s four-point health sector agenda, emphasising that health security is a crucial component of the administration’s vision for a more resilient healthcare system. He stressed that legislative backing is necessary to improve public health infrastructure, enhance disease research, and build strategic partnerships both nationally and internationally.
“The NCDC was established to ensure Nigeria’s readiness for health emergencies through a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, surveillance, detection and response. Strengthening legislation and governance is key to achieving this goal,” he said.
The lawmakers’ visit underscores the growing recognition of the need for a well-structured legal and regulatory framework to support Nigeria’s public health institutions. The committee on delegated legislation aims to assess existing laws, identify gaps and propose necessary amendments to strengthen NCDC’s legal mandate.
Meanwhile, health experts have emphasised that stronger legal backing would enable the NCDC to enforce health regulations more effectively, coordinate emergency responses with greater efficiency and secure sustainable funding for research and development in disease prevention. A robust legal framework, they argue, is essential for ensuring that Nigeria can respond proactively to emerging health threats.
The engagement between the House Committee and the NCDC is expected to set the stage for critical policy reforms that will enhance Nigeria’s preparedness for future health challenges. By refining legislation, lawmakers hope to empower the NCDC to play a more proactive role in disease control and prevention, ultimately strengthening the country’s health security framework.
