Senate Passes Senator Adeola’s Bill To Strengthen Primary Health Care System For Public Hearing

BY ABU-SATAR HAMED 

ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Senate has passed for second reading a bill sponsored by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West), titled “The National Primary Health Care Development Agency Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 900),” paving the way for its public hearing and eventual passage into law.

The bill seeks to repeal the existing National Primary Health Care Development Agency Act and replace it with a more comprehensive legal framework that ensures efficient coordination, accountability, and effectiveness in Nigeria’s primary health care delivery system.

Leading the debate on the floor of the Senate, Senator Adeola emphasized that primary health care remains the foundation of every functional health care system, being the closest form of medical service accessible to the people.

He noted that despite the establishment of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in the early 1990s, the current legal framework guiding its operations has become outdated and inadequate to address today’s health challenges.

“In view of the fact that the current law neither captures the new realities of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), digital health integration, nor community health insurance, there is a need to bring the Act up to date and reposition the Agency as a driver of universal access to primary health care”, Senator Adeola stated.

He further explained that the proposed bill aims to establish a clearer governance structure, promote performance-based management, and encourage community participation through Ward Health Committees and local partnerships. It also seeks to enhance coordination among the Federal, State, and Local Governments, and facilitate the integration of technology, data systems, and health research into the primary health care framework.

The bill received strong support from the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Mugono (APC, Borno South) and Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central).

Following deliberations, it was overwhelmingly passed by the Senate for public hearing and subsequent legislative processes. #LOYAMP