*Transmits 24 Health Sector Bills Covering NAFDAC, Teaching Hospitals, Medical Councils
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President Bola Tinubu has requested the Senate’s approval for a series of judicial reforms aimed at increasing the number of judges across key courts in Nigeria, while also transmitting 24 health sector bills for legislative consideration.
At the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, read letters from President Tinubu detailing multiple legislative requests across the judiciary and health sectors.
In his letter requesting judicial reforms, President Tinubu sought an amendment to the Court of Appeal Act to raise the number of justices from 70 to 110.
The President cited the need to strengthen the court and address the growing volume of cases as the rationale for the proposed increase of 40 additional justices.
President Tinubu also transmitted a bill seeking amendments to the Federal High Court Act to increase the number of judges from 70 to 90, up from the original provision of 50 judges.
The President urged the Senate to give the bill expedited consideration, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the capacity of the Federal High Court to handle its expanding caseload.
In addition to the proposed increases in judicial personnel, the President sought Senate confirmation of the appointment of Hon. Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole, JCA as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The Senate also received a Court of Appeal Amendment Bill proposing the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre to facilitate the settlement of appropriate cases outside the traditional court system.
The proposed ADR Centre is expected to help decongest the courts by providing an alternative mechanism for resolving disputes, particularly those that may be more efficiently handled through mediation, arbitration, or other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
The proposed judicial amendments were referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
In a separate but equally significant development, the Senate on Tuesday received the transmission of 24 health sector bills from President Tinubu for legislative consideration, in line with Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The bills were conveyed in a letter addressed to the Senate and read during plenary by Senate President Akpabio.
President Tinubu explained that the proposed legislation followed a comprehensive review of existing health sector laws conducted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in collaboration with the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and subsequently approved by the Federal Executive Council.
According to the President, the bills aim to streamline governance structures across health institutions by reducing bloated board memberships, with a view to improving efficiency, effectiveness, and service delivery within the sector.
He noted that the proposed legislations cover a wide range of health institutions and regulatory bodies, including tertiary and teaching hospitals, specialty hospitals, professional councils, and regulatory agencies.
INSTITUTIONS COVERED BY HEALTH BILLS
The amendment bills transmitted to the Senate are those relating to:
- National Hospital for Women and Children
- Federal Medical Centres
- National Specialty Hospitals Management Board
- Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board
- National Eye Centre
- National Ear Care Centre
- Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria
- Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria
- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
- National Blood Service Agency
Among others.
The President also listed additional legislative proposals, such as the Records Officers Registration and Digital Health Bill 2025 and the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Bill 2025.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the Senate would give the bills careful and judicious consideration in the interest of strengthening Nigeria’s health sector.
After the bills were read at plenary, the Senate President referred all 24 bills to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
The dual requests for judicial expansion and health sector reforms represent a comprehensive approach to addressing systemic challenges in two critical sectors of Nigerian governance.
The proposed increase in the number of justices and judges is expected to help address the backlog of cases in Nigerian courts, reduce delays in the administration of justice, and improve access to justice for citizens.
The establishment of an ADR Centre at the Court of Appeal level could potentially revolutionize dispute resolution in Nigeria by providing parties with faster, less formal, and potentially less expensive alternatives to traditional litigation.
Meanwhile, the health sector reforms targeting bloated board memberships are aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health institutions by streamlining governance structures and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks that may hinder service delivery.
The comprehensive nature of the health sector bills—covering hospitals, regulatory agencies, professional councils, and introducing new regulatory frameworks—indicates a holistic approach to reforming Nigeria’s healthcare system.
As the Senate Committee on Rules and Business begins consideration of these bills, stakeholders in both the judicial and health sectors are likely to closely monitor the legislative process and its potential impact on service delivery and institutional effectiveness.
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