By George Ozalla
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, has assured stakeholders that the committee will give fair consideration to all submissions on the proposed Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill, insisting that lawmakers have not predetermined their position on the legislation.
Okafor gave the assurance during a public hearing on the bill at the National Assembly in Abuja, where stakeholders examined the proposed regulatory framework for nutrition practice in Nigeria.
He said the hearing was convened to provide citizens, professionals, experts and relevant organisations an opportunity to present their views, evidence and recommendations before the committee makes its position known to the House.
“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,” Okafor said.
He urged participants to regard their contributions as an important part of the legislative process and an opportunity to influence decisions that would affect professional practice and public welfare.
“I therefore plead with each speaker to see his or her role today as a contribution to lawmaking and national development. We aim for good laws, having known the consequences of bad ones,” he stated.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria to regulate nutrition practice, strengthen professional standards and improve the quality of nutritional guidance available to Nigerians.
The bill comes amid growing concerns over malnutrition, food insecurity and the risks associated with harmful or misleading dietary advice. Supporters of the proposed council argue that a formal regulatory framework would help establish professional standards and protect members of the public who depend on nutrition services.
However, the hearing also provided an opportunity for stakeholders who oppose aspects of the proposal to present their concerns, including questions surrounding professional regulation and the responsibilities of practitioners in related fields.
The Institute for Dietetics in Nigeria was among the professional bodies whose position featured in discussions surrounding the proposed legislation, reflecting the need for lawmakers to consider the implications of the bill for existing professional structures.
Declaring the hearing open on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, the Deputy House Leader, Hon. Ibrahim Halims, said the establishment of the Standing Committee on Nutrition and Food Security reflected the importance of nutrition to public health, education, healthcare expenditure and national productivity.
Abbas called on stakeholders to approach the exercise with objectivity, technical rigour and a shared commitment to national interest, stressing that legislation must respond to a demonstrable need and provide a workable framework for implementation.
He maintained that the success of the proposed law should not be measured merely by the establishment of another regulatory institution, but by its ability to strengthen professional competence, protect Nigerians from harmful or misleading advice and improve the quality of nutrition services.
The Speaker further noted that an effective regulatory framework could strengthen preventive healthcare, reduce avoidable health burdens and contribute to a healthier and more productive population.
He commended the Okafor-led committee and the Nutrition Society of Nigeria for their contributions to the proposed legislation, noting the importance of giving nutrition and food security sustained attention in the nation’s legislative agenda.
Okafor also acknowledged the importance of the Speaker’s support for the establishment of the Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, describing the development as significant to legislative efforts on nutrition and national development.
The committee is expected to collate and review the submissions made at the hearing before making recommendations to the House for consideration at plenary.
The outcome of the process will help determine the next legislative steps on the proposed council and the framework for regulating nutrition practice in Nigeria.
