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Reps say Infectious Diseases Bill to be subjected to public hearing, deny taking $10m bribe

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The Nigerian House of Representatives on Tuesday succumbed to public outcry and accepted to subject the Infectious Diseases Bill to public hearing.
The House also denied claims in some quarters that they collected $10 million bribe to pass the bill.

The lawmakers had last Tuesday allowed the bill to scale through first and second reading.

It was learnt that the bill would have also scaled through third reading but for some lawmakers who opposed it.

Following the development, many Nigerians had kicked against the attention accorded to the bill. Many alleged that their must be an ulterior motive behind the action of the lawmakers on the bill sponsored by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

Responding to the public outcry, Gbajabiamila, during Reps plenary on Tuesday, denied that the bill was a sinister attempt to turn Nigerians into guinea pigs for medical research while taking away their fundamental human rights.

Noting that the bill would now be subjected to public hearing before final passage, he maintained that “the control of Infectious Diseases Bill was conceived in the best interests of the Nigerian people and no one else.

Gbajabiamila told his colleagues, “Suffice it to say that none of these allegations are true. Unfortunately, we now live in a time when conspiracy theories have gained such currency that genuine endeavours in the public interest can quickly become mischaracterised and misconstrued to raise the spectre of sinister intent and ominous possibility.

“This House of Representatives will never take any action that purposes to bring harm to any Nigerian here at home or abroad. As we have thus far shown by our conduct, the resolutions and actions we take in this 9th House of Representatives will always be in the best interests of the Nigerian people who elected us, and no one else.

“In the recent uproar, certain fundamental truths have been lost and are worth remembering. Our current framework for the prevention and management of infectious diseases is obsolete and no longer fit for purpose. The current law severely constrains the ability of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to take proactive action to prevent the entry into Nigeria of infectious diseases and the management of public health emergencies when they occur.

Read also: Benue govt confirms second case of COVID-19 infection, says he’s an NDLEA official

“Even now, the government remains vulnerable to claims that some directives already being implemented to manage the present crisis do not have the backing of the law and therefore cannot withstand judicial scrutiny.

“I disagree wholeheartedly with the suggestion that this is not the ideal time to seek reforms of the infectious diseases and public health emergency framework in the country. The weaknesses of the present system have already manifested in the inability of the government to hold to proper account those whose refusal to adhere with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines led to the further spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria. We have had people break out from isolation centres, and others, who fully aware of their status chose to travel across state lines on public transport.”

Meanwhile, the House also denied claims in some quarters that they collected $10 million bribe to pass the bill.

They threatened to take legal action against promoters of the allegation bordering on $10 million inducement to pass the bill.

The resolution was passed following the motion of personal explanation sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase.

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