Gbajabiamila bows to pressure,  says Control of Infectious Diseases Bill  subject  to public  hearing 

The speaker of the House of Representatives,  Femi  Gbajabiamila has said  the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill 2020 to a public  hearing. 

Gbajabiamila, while  speaking  at Tuesday’s plenary, described  controversy trailing tthe proposed  legislation since its first  and second  reading  in the House  last  week  as unnecessary. 

The House  last  Tuesday resolved  to give  the Control of Infectious Diseases  Bill  a speedy passage. 

After  the bill  passed through first  and second reading within  minutes,  the deputy, Idris  Wase,  who presided over the debate referred to the Committee of the Whole,  side-stepping a public hearing.  The decision  did not go down well  with those opposed to the bill both within and outside the House,  with many insinuating that the parliament  has something to hide  as it concerns  the bill. 

Regardless,  Gbajabiamila said “the bill has been assailed as a sinister attempt to turn Nigerians into guinea pigs for medical research while taking away their fundamental human rights.

“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.

“The Control of Infectious Diseases Bill will be put forward to a public hearing where stakeholder contributions will be sought to make improvements to the Bill before it is reviewed and debated by the Committee of the whole.

 It is from the accumulation of these myriad views, suggestions and good faith critiques from within and outside the House that we will arrive at final legislation that meets the present and future needs of our country, and which we all can support in good conscience.”

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