The leadership of the proposed National Institute for Public Health and Infectious Diseases (NIPHID) has defended the bill seeking its establishment, arguing that critics have misunderstood the legislation currently before the National Assembly.
Speaking during a press briefing in Zaria, Kaduna State, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the proposed institute, Dr. Dalhatu Aminu, maintained that the concerns raised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society, and the Health Sector Reform Coalition were based on an outdated or incorrect version of the bill.
Aminu Says Institute Will Support, Not Replace, NCDC
According to Aminu, the proposed institute is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s public health system by complementing the work of the NCDC rather than competing with it.
He explained that the institution would function primarily as a specialist tertiary centre focused on infectious disease treatment, postgraduate medical education, and advanced scientific research.
It would also collaborate with the NCDC in areas such as disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, and emergency preparedness whenever required.
He stressed that the legislation does not establish a parallel public health agency or transfer any of the statutory responsibilities currently assigned to the NCDC.
Critics Accused of Misreading the Legislation
Aminu insisted that the objections raised by opponents stem from a misunderstanding of the bill.
He said those opposing the proposal appeared to have reviewed an earlier draft rather than the version currently under consideration by lawmakers.
To support his argument, he pointed to Section 21 of the bill, which explicitly states that the institute will not duplicate the NCDC’s legal responsibilities for national disease surveillance, outbreak response, or coordination of public health emergencies.
Instead, the section mandates close cooperation between the proposed institute and the NCDC on training programmes, joint research initiatives, and outbreak response support.
Claims Over International Health Regulations Rejected
The acting CEO also dismissed allegations that the bill seeks to designate the proposed institute as Nigeria’s National Focal Point under the International Health Regulations.
According to him, no provision in the legislation grants the institute that authority, contrary to claims made by some stakeholders.
He similarly rejected suggestions that the institute plans to establish offices across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, explaining that the bill only provides for a headquarters in Zaria while allowing collaborative research and training units where necessary.
Existing Zaria Centre to Form Foundation of New Institute
Rather than creating an entirely new government agency, Aminu said the proposed institute would build upon the existing National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre in Zaria.
He noted that the centre has served the country for more than six decades and already possesses experienced personnel, infrastructure, and facilities that would be integrated into the new institution.
This approach, he argued, would avoid unnecessary expansion of government bureaucracy while strengthening specialist healthcare services.
Funding Proposal Described as Necessary Investment
Aminu also addressed concerns over the institute’s proposed funding arrangement under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
He described the financial allocation as modest and necessary to improve specialist clinical services, expand research capacity, and train more infectious disease experts to meet Nigeria’s growing healthcare needs.
According to him, investing in specialist institutions is essential for improving the country’s long-term health security.
NCDC Previously Warned Against Overlapping Responsibilities
The debate over the proposed institute intensified after the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, expressed reservations during a House of Representatives public hearing on the bill.
Idris argued that certain provisions appeared to overlap with the agency’s existing legal responsibilities, warning that establishing another institution with similar mandates could lead to duplication of duties, institutional rivalry, and weaken Nigeria’s coordinated response to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
Institute Calls for Objective Review of Bill
Responding to those concerns, Aminu maintained that a careful reading of the legislation clearly distinguishes the institute’s role from that of the NCDC.
He challenged the NCDC to release its promised clause-by-clause analysis of the bill so that the public could independently assess its contents.
He also appealed to the NCDC, the Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society, and the Health Sector Reform Coalition to study the authentic version of the proposed law, reconsider their objections, and engage constructively with lawmakers.
According to Aminu, Nigeria’s healthcare system requires both a strong disease control agency and dedicated specialist institutions capable of advancing clinical care, research, and professional training in infectious diseases, insisting that the proposed institute is designed to reinforce the NCDC’s work rather than undermine it.
