BAUCHI STATE GOVERNMENT ADVISED TO REGULATE THE PROLIFERATION OF PRIVATE HEALTH TRAINING INSTITUTIONS

BY RABI’U ISHAQ MUHAMMAD

Bauchi State House of Assembly has called on the state government to regulate and address the proliferation of private health training institutions operating below standard across the state.

The call followed a motion presented during plenary by the Chairman, House Committee on Health, who also represents Sade Constituency, Lawal Dauda.

Presenting the motion, Lawal Dauda expressed concern that many private health training institutions in the state are operating without the required approvals from relevant regulatory bodies, including the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

He noted that, some of the institutions operate in unsuitable environments, lack qualified teaching staff, and are poorly equipped, with inadequate facilities such as libraries, laboratories and hostels.

According to him, these deficiencies pose serious risks to public health, as graduates from such institutions may lack the competence required to deliver quality healthcare services.

The lawmaker further observed that the situation is worsened by weak enforcement of existing regulations and the tendency of some proprietors to prioritize profit over patient safety, thereby exposing the public to substandard healthcare delivery.

Lawal Dauda added that the Executive Governor of Bauchi State has expressed concern over the increasing number of unauthorized health training institutions, noting that, their continued operation poses a significant threat to public health and safety.

He therefore stressed the need for urgent legislative intervention to regulate the sector and protect citizens from unqualified health personnel.

BAUCHI STATE GOVERNMENT ADVISED TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE STATE-2-STATE GOVERNANCE REFORMS.

BY RABI’U ISHAQ MUHAMMAD

Bauchi State Government has been urged to ensure the sustainability of the State2State governance reforms and strengthen legislative oversight through the introduction of quarterly budget performance review sessions.

The call was made by the member representing Darazo Constituency in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Builder Sa’idu Sulaiman Darazo, while presenting a motion during plenary.

Presenting the motion, the lawmaker explained that the call became necessary following the global suspension of programmes funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which he said had led to the abrupt halt of State2State reform activities in Bauchi State.

According to him, the sudden cessation of these reform-driven engagements has created a vacuum that poses a serious threat to the gains achieved over the years through the programme.

Builder Saidu Darazo noted that the suspension of State2State support should not signal the end of governance reforms in the state, but rather serve as a turning point for the adoption of locally driven and sustainable governance mechanisms.

He added that the motion seeks to preserve and institutionalise the achievements of the State2State programme, as well as strengthen legislative oversight beyond what he described as ceremonial budget approvals.

In his prayers, the lawmaker urged the state government to immediately take full ownership of the State2State reforms framework by domesticating its best practices within relevant ministries, departments and agencies.

He further called on the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning to make specific budgetary provisions in its fiscal estimates to ensure the continuation of governance reforms.

The motion also urged the Bauchi State House of Assembly to direct all its standing committees to align their oversight functions with quarterly budget performance sessions, as a replacement for the current one-time annual budget defence model, which he described as ineffective.