Senate has passed to the third reading a bill seeking to amend the Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act, titled the Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board (Amendment) Bill 2025 (SB 364).
The passage came shortly after the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), Senator Banigo Ipalibo Harry, presented the committee’s report before the Senate plenary on Wednesday for consideration and approval.
Presenting the report, Senator Banigo, who represents Rivers West, stated that the bill, sponsored by Senator Shehu Buba, aims to amend the Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act and establish an orthopaedic hospital in Toro, Bauchi State.
She further explained that an orthopaedic hospital is a specialized medical facility focused on the musculoskeletal system, which plays a crucial role in various functions of the human body.
It addresses orthopaedic disorders such as fractures, musculoskeletal conditions, and other related diseases that many people suffer from without adequate care.
Senator Banigo explained that establishing this specialized hospital in Toro is essential, as it will bring healthcare services closer to the people.
She noted that the hospital would not only serve the residents of Toro and Bauchi State but also cater to patients from neighboring states.
Senator Banigo said the objective of establishing this hospital in Toro is to provide diagnostic services, handle emergencies, and offer specialized orthopaedic care.
According to her, the hospital will be affiliated with the Federal Medical Center.
She further mentioned that the committee, after a thorough clause-by-clause review, has recommended the approval of the amended bill.
In a related development the Senate has approved an amendment to clauses 14 and 15 of the acts establishing the North-west, South-West and South-East Development Commissions.
Also amended is clause 4 (1) of 2025 National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund Establishment Bill.
The approval is a sequel to the presentation of a motion “titled “Committal of Bills to the Committee of the Whole ”.
The motion was sponsored by leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti).
Bamidela in his motion recalled that North-West, South -West, South -East Development Commissions and the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund establishment Bills 2025 were earlier passed by the Senate and House of Representatives .
According to him, the bills has been forwarded to Clerk to the National Assembly, for onward transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
He, however, said Senate observed that the funding clauses for the commissions and the proposed fund to be established as provided in the bills appeared to contradict section 162 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
He said section 1, subsections (1 ) and 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended provides that the constitution is supreme and any law that contradicts the constitution shall be null and void to the extent of the contradiction.
Bamidele added that the Senate must ensure its work was not in vain and should be seen as upholding the constitution, just like any other authority or individual in Nigeria.
He cited Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of its 2023 Standing Orders (as amended) to justify rescinding its decisions on the affected clauses of the Development Commissions Bills and the NYSC Trust Fund Bill.
This, he noted resulted in the re-commital of the bills to Committee of the Whole for reconsideration and passage
After the bills were passed, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said all the regional development commissions bills are in tandem with the Nigerian Constitution, especially section 162 which states that all funds accruing to the Federation shall be paid into the consolidated revenue fund of the Federation.
He said that the bills would be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
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