The Lagos State House of Assembly has proposed new amendments for the Lagos State College of Health Law in order to address the inadequacies in the existing laws as well as give a broader and more elaborate coverage in line with the mandate of the college by providing services in other areas of human health.
The Bill entitled, “A BILL FOR A LAW TO REPEAL AND REENACT THE LAGOS STATE COLLEGE OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY AND FOR CONNECTED PURPOSES” passed through its public hearing on Wednesday.
Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, Deputy Speaker who presided over the Public Hearing on behalf of the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, disclosed that the purpose of the hearing is to deliberate and curate the publics and stakeholders’ opinions on the Bill which seeks to touch the existence and sustenance of the universe.
He said the intention of the amendments is to ensure the college of health technology is not barely functional, but actually prestigious and competitive in the comity of similar institutions worldwide.
In addition, this target is even more important today that the untold challenges facing the global health sector, the College of Technology is a good point for training structure, management, facility and other resources used to highlight the goal of a good health sector whereby the institution will produce good professionals whose services will achieve our goal of good health.
In his Welcome Address, Hon. Owolabi Ajani, Chairman, Committee on Education (Tertiary Institutions) stated that “The Bill intends to make provision for courses of study, training and research in health technology leading to award of certificates/National Diploma/Higher National Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma and Professional Certificate as may be determined by the Governing Council of the college”.
He hereby enjoined the stakeholders to contribute enormously to the proposed Bill, assuring them that their suggestions, opinions, contributions would be considered by the Committee in order to make a Law that would stand the test of time.
Giving the overview of the Bill, Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, stated that the Bill has 54 sections, which makes the Institution an apex educational system in the State with facilities for learning and training in health technology that will enhance liberal education, also, makes provisions for research, development, production and advisory services and for the purposes of these, may enter into arrangements with the Public Private Companies, Parastatals and other Institutions as deem desirable.
He ascertained that Sections 10 will take order of precedence whereby the Chairman of the Council shall take precedence over all members of the Council at the convocation of the College and the common Seal of the College shall be officially and judicially noticed.
Stakeholders reviewed the 54 Sections of the Bill with the lawmakers and made inputs and suggestions.
Dr. Ademolu Adegbenga of Nigeria Medical Association observed that the Office of the Registrar is not listed among other Principal of the academic community, also of the opinion for the need of health facility in the Institution which will cater for health emergencies.
Contributing, Prof. Abiodun Adewuya, Provost, Lagos State College of Medicine suggested that the Institution should be instituted in awarding Honorary Degrees.
In response to the concerns raised on some clauses in the Bill, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni assured the stakeholders and the public that the Bill will include the aggregate of the submissions of Stakeholders.
