Senate approves bill to establish National Emergency Medical Services Agency

By Ekwi Ajide

The Senate has passed a bill to establish the National Emergency Medical Services Agency.

The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) which sought to, among others, ensure that all Nigerians have access to early, good and quality emergency medical service and critical care when needed.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central), in his presentation, said the agency when established would provide assistance for the development of comprehensive area emergency medical services system in Nigeria.

According to the law maker, the country currently lacks a robust emergency healthcare service and as such, legislative mandate should be to establish one at this time so as to improve the decaying healthcare system through the provision of better and reliable institutional framework for an effective and efficient emergency medical service in Nigeria.

In the same vein, the Senate also passed bills establishing three universities.

They are: Federal University of Science and Technology Lau, Taraba State; Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Aboh, Delta State; and City University of Technology Auchi, Edo State.

The passage of the bills followed the consideration of three separate reports by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.

Senator Sandy Onuh, in his presentations on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee, Ahmad Babba Kaita, said the Federal Univeristy of Agriculture and Technology, Aboh, in Delta State, would offer graduates knowledge in research to improve on Agricultural extension and general Agricultural practices.

In another presentation on the report of the Conference Committee on the establishment of City University of Technology, Auchi, Onuh said the Senate and House of Representatives met and deliberated on the two versions of the bill.

According to him, it was resolved that the harmonised version be adopted by each of the two chambers of the National Assembly for approval.