House Of Reps Bars Journalists From Public Hearing On Control of Infectious Disease Bill
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Determined to pass the controversial “Control of Infectious Disease Bill” in spite of criticisms and stiff opposition to it, the House of Representatives on Wednesday barred journalists from covering the Public Hearing on the bill being sponsored by its Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
This is as the House appeared to be so intolerant of opposition against the Bill that is experiencing speedy action as it vowed to take legal action against an online media organisation that reported that the leadership collected $10 billion from Bill Gates to fasten the passage of the Bill.
When journalists covering the House of Representatives turned up for the coverage of the event, they were prevented by operatives of the Sergeant-At-Arms, who told the surprised newsmen that they were acting on the directives of the Chairman of the Health Services Committee, Hon. Tanko Sununu and the Committees Clerk, Joyce Umeru.
The Sergeant-At-Arms personnel explained to the surprised but curious journalists that they under strict instructions not to allow the media apart from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) crew.
The controversial Bill being sponsored by the Speaker Femi Gbajabiamilla, Hon Pascal Obi and the Chairman, House Committee on Health Institutions, Hon, Tanko Sununu, seeks to repeal and replace the Quarantine Act by making provisions relating to quarantine, regulations for preventing the introduction into and spread in Nigeria of dangerous infectious diseases, and for other related matters.
The Bill has come under severe criticisms for giving too much powers to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the management of infectious diseases and pandemic in the country particularly as its provisions infringe on the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
For instance, the controversial Bill amongst others, empowered the Director-General of the NCDC to be in-charge of the administration of the proposed law, notification of prescribed infectious diseases, surveillance, medical examination and treatment, vaccination post-mortem examination, destruction and disposal of infected animals, food and water, isolation of certain persons, prohibition or restriction of meetings, gatherings and public entertainments as well as control of occupation, trade or business.
Part of the Bill stipulates: “Except as otherwise provided by this Act, the Director-General of Nigerian Centre for Disease Control shall, subject to any general or special directions of the Minister, be responsible for the administration of this Act.
“The Director General may, subject to such conditions or restrictions as he thinks fit, appoint any public officer, officer of any statutory body; or employee of a prescribed institution, to be a Health Officer for the purposes of this Act or any particular provision of this Act.
“The Director General may require any person who is, or is suspected to be, a case or carrier or contact of an infectious disease to submit to medical examination or medical treatment within or at such time, and at such place, as the Director General may determine.
“The Director General may order any person who is, or is suspected to be, a case or carrier or contact of an infectious disease to be detained and isolated in a hospital or other place for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director General may determine”.
Similarly, another contentious provision of the Bill is the power to force certain persons to undergo vaccination or other prophylaxis.
The Bill states; “In an outbreak or a suspected outbreak of any infectious disease in any area in Nigeria, the Director General of NCDC may by order direct any person or class of persons not protected or vaccinated against the disease to undergo vaccination or other prophylaxis within such period as may be specified in the order”.
Against the backdrop of serious and multiple criticisms that Speaker Gbajabiamila later agreed to subject the Bill to a Public Hearing where Nigerians from all walks of life would be given an opportunity to contribute to the proposed law.
The House last week referred the spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere to the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) for criminal investigation and to activate processes for requisite redress against Ikenga over his allegation of $10m bribe to pass the Control of Infectious Disease Bill.
The House in adopting the report of its ad-hoc Committee on the matter chaired by Henry Nwawuba (Imo, PDP), said that in spite of the allegation that its members collected $10 million to work on the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, Ikenga failed to appear before its Ad-hoc Committee to prove the claims.
