Senator Abba Patrick Moro’s bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, Teaching Hospital passes Second Reading

 

 

 

The University Teaching Hospitals Amendment Act Bill being sponsored by the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro PhD, on Tuesday, passed Second Reading on the floor of the senate.

The bill, which is seeking to amend the University Teaching Hospitals Act to establish the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, Teaching Hospital was read the first time on October 8.

While presenting the lead debate on the bill, Senator Moro said the sole purpose of the bill was to amend the University Teaching Hospitals Act to include the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo Teaching Hospital and urged his colleagues to support its Second Reading.

The lead debate read;

“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, may I seek your kind leave to lead a debate on this very important Bill.

“The Bill was read for the first time in this revered chamber on the 8th of October, 2025.

“The one and sole purpose of this Bill is to amend the University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Board, etc) Act to include the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo Teaching Hospital which is already in existence and operational.

“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, as we are aware, the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, is a premier institution dedicated to training healthcare professionals in Benue State and Nigeria by extension, the university’s mission is to produce highly skilled and competent medical practitioners who can serve the healthcare needs of our nation.

“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, The National Health Act, 2014, Section 10, establishes the framework for teaching hospitals in Nigeria. Specifically, Section 10(1) states that “A teaching hospital shall be established by an Act of the National Assembly, this implies that without an Act of the National Assembly, a teaching hospital does not have the legal backing to operate, thus the reason for this Bill.

“Mr. President, My Dear Colleagues, I urge you all to support this Bill and pass it accordingly.

“Thank you for your kind audience.”

In their separate contributions, as Senators Victor Umeh and Oyelola Yisa Ashiru lent their supports for the Second Reading of the bill. They said it was timely and straight forward, especially as it concerns health.

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, after securing the nod of all senators in plenary for the Second Reading of the bill, commended Senator Moro for his people-oriented bills and motions. He said health was wealth, stating that any effort to improve the health sector and bring it closer to the people would be supported.

The bill was passed and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, to report back in four weeks.

Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John,
Media Adviser to the Senate Minority Leader
18/11/2025