The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted moves by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to pass
the Infectious Disease Control Bill without recourse to the laid
down procedure of public hearing to allow Nigerians participate in
the process of making the law.
In a statement on Saturday by the spokesman of PDP, Kola
Ologbondiyan, the party described such moves to shut out Nigerians
from public debate on such a crucial legislation as ominous.
The PDP said the moves raised suspicions of sinister objectives
as the nation combats the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement said, “This is especially as the bill seeks to
prescribe clauses on critical issues, particularly that of
vaccination, which has become globally controversial in the face of
raging conspiracy theories on the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The PDP is alarmed that such approach is already worsening
public mistrust in the polity as well as heightening apprehension
over the intentions of the presiding officers of the House of
Representatives and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led
administration at this critical time.
“The PDP insists that Nigerians must be carried along in the
decision making process of such a critical legislation, which seeks
to make provisions that will directly affect their health, as well
as overall individual and collective safety and wellbeing”.
The party stressed that anything short of public hearing on the
bill would be counter-productive and capable of breeding an
avoidable public resistance, especially given the deepening fear
and anxiety in the polity over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PDP urged the Speaker to immediately call himself to order
and allow for public hearing on the bill.
“Our party also urges our lawmakers in both the House of
Representatives and Senate to stand firm against the passage of
bill until there is a public hearing to get the inputs of Nigerians
into the proposed law”, the party added.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted moves by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to pass
the Infectious Disease Control Bill without recourse to the laid
down procedure of public hearing to allow Nigerians participate in
the process of making the law.
In a statement on Saturday by the spokesman of PDP, Kola
Ologbondiyan, the party described such moves to shut out Nigerians
from public debate on such a crucial legislation as ominous.
The PDP said the moves raised suspicions of sinister objectives
as the nation combats the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement said, “This is especially as the bill seeks to
prescribe clauses on critical issues, particularly that of
vaccination, which has become globally controversial in the face of
raging conspiracy theories on the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The PDP is alarmed that such approach is already worsening
public mistrust in the polity as well as heightening apprehension
over the intentions of the presiding officers of the House of
Representatives and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led
administration at this critical time.
“The PDP insists that Nigerians must be carried along in the
decision making process of such a critical legislation, which seeks
to make provisions that will directly affect their health, as well
as overall individual and collective safety and wellbeing”.
The party stressed that anything short of public hearing on the
bill would be counter-productive and capable of breeding an
avoidable public resistance, especially given the deepening fear
and anxiety in the polity over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PDP urged the Speaker to immediately call himself to order
and allow for public hearing on the bill.
“Our party also urges our lawmakers in both the House of
Representatives and Senate to stand firm against the passage of
bill until there is a public hearing to get the inputs of Nigerians
into the proposed law”, the party added.