The Chairman House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Malaria Control, Amobi Ogah, has assured Nigerians that the parliament will take decisive legislative actions to combat tuberculosis, (TB), including pushing for increased funding and enacting laws to protect patients’ rights,
Speaking at the Re-Launch of the Nigeria Parliamentary TB Caucus at the National Assembly, Mr. Ogah emphasized that lawmakers must leverage their positions to strengthen Nigeria’s TB response.
He promised to mobilize parliamentarians to sign up for the caucus and champion policies that will enhance TB detection, treatment, and prevention.
The Committee urged Parliament to intensify advocacy and push for greater financial commitments from the government.
Mr. Ogah praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for committing over ₦700 billion to Nigeria’s health system, including TB interventions, and commended First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her ₦1 billion donation to TB eradication efforts.
The Speaker, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, said the House of Representatives would take bold legislative action and increase funding to combat tuberculosis (TB), a disease that continues to pose a major public health threat in the country.
Abbas described TB as a longstanding but often overlooked health crisis, stressing that urgent interventions are needed to curb its devastating impact.
According to the Speaker despite past efforts, including the establishment of the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme in 1989 and alignment with WHO’s global TB elimination strategies, the disease continues to spread.
He emphasized the urgent need for stronger awareness campaigns, improved healthcare infrastructure, and legislative measures to bridge the treatment gap.
Tajudeen reaffirmed the 10th House of Representatives’ commitment to prioritizing health reforms, noting that Parliament had already increased the national health budget in line with the Abuja Declaration, which recommends at least 15% of the national budget be allocated to healthcare.
