From Tongnaan Bawa Jos
The Plateau State House of Assembly has taken a significant step toward improving healthcare delivery by recommending the passage of a bill that seeks to provide funding and other forms of support to approved faith-based health institutions across the state.
The recommendation followed the presentation of the report of the House Standing Committee on Health during Tuesday’s plenary by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Daniel Nanbol Listick. He recalled that the proposed legislation was referred to the committee on March 5, 2025, for detailed legislative scrutiny.
According to the report, the committee thoroughly examined the bill and held a public hearing on August 22, 2025, where stakeholders from the health sector and other interested groups made submissions and proposed amendments. The committee noted that the bill received overwhelming support because it is designed to ensure compassionate and quality healthcare services for all residents, irrespective of faith, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.
The committee observed that the proposed law would enhance healthcare delivery, reduce disparities in underserved communities, and encourage the integration of spiritual care with conventional medical services. It, however, recommended amendments to strengthen transparency and accountability, particularly in the framework guiding local government support for faith-based health institutions.
Among its recommendations, the committee endorsed provisions empowering the ministry responsible for health to deregister non-performing faith-based health institutions, subject to confirmation by the Plateau State House of Assembly. It also proposed that faith-based institutions be represented during the evaluation process and that approved funds be released within two months after the assessment of eligible institutions.
The committee further recommended a minimum fine of ₦500,000 for institutions that violate the provisions of the proposed law. It stressed that all directives issued under the legislation should comply with existing laws and the policies and guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Health.
Following the presentation, the House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Speaker Rt. Hon. Na’anlong Daniel, to consider the report clause by clause. After deliberations, lawmakers adopted the committee’s recommendations and reconvened in plenary.
Speaker Na’anlong Daniel subsequently directed the Clerk of the House to prepare a clean copy of the bill for transmission to the Governor of Plateau State for assent.
The House Standing Committee on Health is chaired by Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda, with Hon. Daniel Nanbol Listick as Deputy Chairman. Other members are Hon. Kalamu Idris Dal, Hon. Aliyu Adamu, Hon. Joseph Gokum, Hon. Dickson Chollom, and Hon. Eli Ankala.