Bashir M
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has warned Ministry officials against misadvising President Muhammadu Buhari on bills passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to him for Presidential assent.
Lawan gave the warning during day-two of a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Health on three bills presently before the senate.
The bills are: A bill for an Act to to Amend the Orthopedic Management Board Act No 91, 1979 and for other related matters and to provide for the establishment of Federal Orthopedic Hospital KUTA, Bill 2021 (SB. 279); the National University of Health and Medical Sciences Suleja (establishment etc (SB. 633); and Federal University of Health and Medical Sciences Abeokuta, Ogun State (establishment etc) Bill 2021 (SB. 26).
According to the Senate President, some ministry officials have made it their business to frustrate bills passed by the National Assembly by ensuring they are denied presidential assent.
Lawan flayed the absence of the Minister of Health, Emmanuel Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, Adeleke Mamora, and other ministry officials during the public hearing on the bills.
He underscored the need for representatives of the executive arm of government to be present at such hearings, noting that doing so would avail them the opportunity of making their input in light of whatever reservations they may have on a bill under consideration.
He said: “Sometimes, the National Assembly will process a bill and the bill would be taken to Mr. President for his assent, and somebody will just go round and mis-advice that the bill shouldn’t be assented to, mostly the people at the Ministry.
The Senate President emphasised that the public hearing on the bills became imperative given the need to grow the health sector, by not only increasing facilities, but also enhancing the quality of personnel manning this important sector.
He added that Manpower in the health sector is a regular focus, because of its ability to make the difference between life and death.
The formal educational requirements towards initial qualification is fundamental, just as training and re-training.