The House of Representatives has taken a major step towards regulating nutrition practice and improving access to professional services for citizens to make necessary sound nutritional choices as lawmakers and stakeholders converged for a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.
Declaring the public hearing open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Abbas Tajudeen, stated that the House constituted a Standing Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in recognition of the effect of nutrition on education, health expenditure and the overall capacity of citizens to contribute to national development.
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The Speaker called on stakeholders to approach the hearing with a shared commitment to enact a law that will provide a solid regulatory framework and improve the quality of nutrition services available to the public.
“I urge all stakeholders to approach this hearing with candour, technical rigour and a shared commitment to national interest. Parliament must legislate with ambition, but also with prudence.
“A sound law must address a demonstrable need, establish workable institutions and provide a credible pathway from legislative intent to effective implementation.
“Ultimately, the measure of this bill will not be the creation of another institution but whether it strengthens professional competence, protects Nigerians from harmful or misleading advice and improves the quality of nutrition services available to the public.
“By getting the regulatory framework right, we can strengthen preventive healthcare, reduce avoidable health burdens and contribute to the development of a healthier and more productive population,” Mr Abbas said.
He commended the Mr. Chike Okafor-led Committee on Nutrition and Food Security as well as other key stakeholders including the Nutrition Society of Nigeria for spareheading the proposed bill.
In his welcome address, the committee chairman, Mr. Chike Okafor noted that public hearings are held to gather feedback, evidence, and opinions from citizens, experts, and stakeholders before a proposed law is finalised.
He assured stakeholders that House is neutral and unbiased and that the actual feedback from stakeholders will influence further legislative action on the bill.
“As a committee, we have no bias or already decided opinion, but we will collate all opinions canvassed by you today either for or against before making our recommendation to the general house in plenary for consideration.
“I therefore plead with each speaker to see his or her role today as a contribution to law making and national development. We aim for good laws having known the consequences of bad ones,” Mr. Okafor said.
He emphasised that the committee would guarantee a level playing field for all Stakeholders.
“As a committee, we have no bias or already decided opinion, but we will collate all opinions canvassed by you today either for or against before making our recommendation to the general house in plenary for consideration,” he said.
Dr. Okafor stressed the inclusivity of the public-facing nature of the hearing.
“Our gathering today is therefore in keeping with this fundamental principle and is meant to offer the general public in whose interest and for whose welfare and good governance laws are made to contribute for or against any piece of proposal,” he declared.
