The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
(NCDC) has reacted to the proposed NCDC bill by the House of
Representatives noting that he personally believes that the time of
crisis is not the time to draft a bill.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said this on Thursday in Abuja while
responding to questions from journalists at the Presidential Task
Force briefing on COVID-19.
The NCDC boss said, although the bill shows that the lawmakers
are concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and trying to find
solutions, the bill need requires consultation to be able to serve
Nigeria both in present and in the future.
“To be honest I saw the bill just like everyone else,
circulating on social media. I take it in a good way. I think the
members of the House of Reps and everybody is concerned about the
situation and what we have found ourselves in. They are doing their
very best to come up with the only solution they can come up with
which is creating new laws.
“I take it positively but the bill requires more consultation.
I’m personally not in favour of drafting a bill in the middle of a
crisis. I think we need to get over the crisis and use the momentum
to engage with all stakeholders to come up with a bill that will
really serve this country.
“We must think through step carefully and come up with a bill
fit for purpose and serves us now and into the future,” he
said.
A Bill for an Act to repeal the Quarantine Act, and enact the
Control of Infectious Diseases bill on Wednesday passed second
reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Femi
Gbajabiamila seeks to empower the NCDC and make it more
proactive.
Gbajabiamila while leading the debate said the NCDC had very
little powers to carry out its mandate even though it is a body
with great professionals.
The introduction of the bill has however drawn criticism with
many people on social media calling for it to be dropped. As of
Thursday afternoon, the top Twitter trend in Nigeria was
#StoptheNCDCBill.
The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
(NCDC) has reacted to the proposed NCDC bill by the House of
Representatives noting that he personally believes that the time of
crisis is not the time to draft a bill.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said this on Thursday in Abuja while
responding to questions from journalists at the Presidential Task
Force briefing on COVID-19.
The NCDC boss said, although the bill shows that the lawmakers
are concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and trying to find
solutions, the bill need requires consultation to be able to serve
Nigeria both in present and in the future.
“To be honest I saw the bill just like everyone else,
circulating on social media. I take it in a good way. I think the
members of the House of Reps and everybody is concerned about the
situation and what we have found ourselves in. They are doing their
very best to come up with the only solution they can come up with
which is creating new laws.
“I take it positively but the bill requires more consultation.
I’m personally not in favour of drafting a bill in the middle of a
crisis. I think we need to get over the crisis and use the momentum
to engage with all stakeholders to come up with a bill that will
really serve this country.
“We must think through step carefully and come up with a bill
fit for purpose and serves us now and into the future,” he
said.
A Bill for an Act to repeal the Quarantine Act, and enact the
Control of Infectious Diseases bill on Wednesday passed second
reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Femi
Gbajabiamila seeks to empower the NCDC and make it more
proactive.
Gbajabiamila while leading the debate said the NCDC had very
little powers to carry out its mandate even though it is a body
with great professionals.
The introduction of the bill has however drawn criticism with
many people on social media calling for it to be dropped. As of
Thursday afternoon, the top Twitter trend in Nigeria was
#StoptheNCDCBill.