The controversial Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020 being
debated on the floor of the House of Representatives will be put to
public hearing, the Speaker has said.
Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, who seemed to have bowed to public pressure,
stated this during Tuesday’s plenary at the lower chamber of the
National Assembly in Abuja.
He said, “The Control of Infectious Diseases Bill will be put forward to
a public hearing where stakeholder contributions will be sought to make
improvements to the bill before it is reviewed and debated by the
Committee of the whole.
“It is from the accumulation of these myriad views, suggestions and good
faith critiques from within and outside the House that we will arrive at
final legislation that meets the present and future needs of our
country, and which we all can support in good conscience,” the speaker
added.
He, however, disagreed with those who condemned the timing of the bill,
insisting that it was appropriate to enact such a bill at this time.
The speaker also denied claims that the leadership of the House had
received $10 million to pass the bill.
He decried that the allegations were weighty, and the House would take
legal action.
“Suffice it to say that none of these allegations is true.
Unfortunately, we now live in a time when conspiracy theories have
gained such currency that genuine endeavours in the public interest can
quickly become mischaracterised and misconstrued to raise the spectre of
sinister intent and ominous possibility,” Gbajabiamila said.
He added, “In the recent uproar, certain fundamental truths have been
lost and are worth remembering.
“Our current framework for the prevention and management of infectious
diseases is obsolete and no longer fit for purpose.
“The current law severely constrains the ability of the Federal
Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
to take proactive action to prevent the entry into Nigeria of infectious
diseases and the management of public health emergencies when they
occur.”