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 and Otukpo, Benue.

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

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

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.

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

Ningi explained 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.

The minority Leader Sen. 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 that the legislation would improve healthcare delivery, particularly in the states where the institutions would be established.