By: Tunji Okunlola
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has taken a significant step toward protecting the rights and dignity of people living with and affected by Tuberculosis (TB), as lawmakers and stakeholders united in calling for the passage of a comprehensive rights-based TB law.
The House Committee on Infectious Diseases convened a one-day public hearing at the National Assembly in Abuja to examine proposed legislation aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to infectious diseases, with the Tuberculosis Rights Bill at the centre of deliberations.
Chaired by Hon. Mark Esset on behalf of Committee Chairman Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, the hearing drew a broad cross-section of participants including lawmakers, government agencies, civil society organisations, health experts, TB survivors, development partners and members of the public.
The Bill seeks to prevent TB-related discrimination and uphold the fundamental human rights and dignity of all persons living with or affected by the disease.
In his opening remarks, Esset described the proposed legislation as a critical intervention, noting that Nigeria has long faced a legal gap in protecting TB-affected persons; a gap that has contributed to delayed testing, poor diagnosis rates and inadequate safeguards against stigma and exclusion.
“This hearing is designed to allow stakeholders to examine the strengths and gaps in the proposed legislation,” he said, adding that the Committee was committed to producing a law capable of standing the test of time.
A Shift Toward People-Centred Care
Stakeholders broadly welcomed the Bill as an opportunity to move Nigeria’s TB response from a disease-focused model to one grounded in human rights and people-centred care. They identified stigma and discrimination as persistent barriers to early diagnosis, treatment adherence, workplace retention, school participation and community reintegration.
A memorandum submitted on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) underscored that stigma is not merely a social problem but a key driver of late presentation, poor treatment outcomes and continued disease transmission. The submission recommended stronger provisions on confidentiality, informed consent, reasonable accommodation, access to justice and enforceable remedies.
Tags: #House of Reps #Tuberculosis #NTBLCP