The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has rejected a proposed bill seeking to establish a new National Institute for Public Health and Infectious Diseases, warning it could weaken Nigeria’s disease response system.
At a public hearing in the House of Representatives, NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris said the proposed institute overlaps with the core duties of the NCDC, including disease surveillance, outbreak response, and epidemic preparedness.
He cautioned that creating a separate agency with similar functions could lead to confusion in leadership, weaken coordination during emergencies, and create conflict over who leads national outbreak responses.
Idris also warned that the plan could increase government spending, as it would require new offices, staffing, and infrastructure at a time when health funding is already stretched.
He urged lawmakers to strengthen existing institutions instead of creating new ones with similar mandates, noting that Nigeria already has a functioning national public health agency established by law.
Supporters of the bill, however, argued that a new institute would improve Nigeria’s preparedness for future epidemics, citing lessons from Ebola, COVID-19, and other outbreaks.
The bill is still under review as consultations continue.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has rejected a proposed bill seeking to establish a new National Institute for Public Health and Infectious Diseases, warning it could weaken Nigeria’s disease response system.
At a public hearing in the House of Representatives, NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris said the proposed institute overlaps with the core duties of the NCDC, including disease surveillance, outbreak response, and epidemic preparedness.
He cautioned that creating a separate agency with similar functions could lead to confusion in leadership, weaken coordination during emergencies, and create conflict over who leads national outbreak responses.
Idris also warned that the plan could increase government spending, as it would require new offices, staffing, and infrastructure at a time when health funding is already stretched.
He urged lawmakers to strengthen existing institutions instead of creating new ones with similar mandates, noting that Nigeria already has a functioning national public health agency established by law.
Supporters of the bill, however, argued that a new institute would improve Nigeria’s preparedness for future epidemics, citing lessons from Ebola, COVID-19, and other outbreaks.
The bill is still under review as consultations continue.
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