In a decisive move aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and enhancing equitable access to tertiary medical services, the House of Representatives is set to deliberate on a legislative proposal proposed by Rt. Hon. Kareem Tajudeen Abisodun for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Saki, Oyo State.
The proposal, listed as Item No. 11 on Tuesday’s Order Paper, forms part of a broader national agenda to reform and expand the country’s healthcare delivery framework.
The initiative is anchored on a report presented by Hon. Patrick Umoh, Chairman of the House Committee on Health Institutions. The bill, formally titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Medical Centres Act and Establish Federal Medical Centre, Saki, Oyo State for the Provision of Tertiary Healthcare Services, Medical Education and for Related Matters (HB.1356),” was initially laid before the House on February 18, 2025.
According to the Committee, the proposed amendment seeks to create the statutory and institutional foundation for a full-fledged Federal Medical Centre that would cater not only to the increasing medical needs of Oyo State residents but also to surrounding states in Nigeria’s southwest geopolitical zone.
The envisioned institution is expected to deliver specialized and advanced medical care, serve as a hub for the training of health professionals, and alleviate the growing burden on overextended healthcare facilities across the region.
Hon. Umoh emphasized that the establishment of the medical centre in Saki aligns with national healthcare policy objectives aimed at decentralizing critical health services, improving medical education, and expanding access to quality care in underserved areas. The move is anticipated to strengthen the referral system within the health sector, promote regional development, and provide employment and capacity-building opportunities for medical personnel.
The bill is part of a coordinated legislative effort to amend existing healthcare laws to reflect contemporary realities and needs. Several similar proposals for the creation or upgrading of medical centres in other parts of the country—including Kogi, Enugu, and Lagos States—were also tabled for consideration in the same plenary session, underscoring the House’s commitment to comprehensive health sector reform.
As the House prepares to debate the recommendations of the Committee on Health Institutions, stakeholders from across the country are watching closely, with expectations high that the legislative process will lead to meaningful and lasting improvements in the nation’s healthcare landscape.
Recall that the Bill was sponsored by Hon. Kareem Tajudeen Abisodun, the honourable representating Saki West, Saki East and Atisbo Federal Constituency.
If enacted, the Federal Medical Centre, Saki, will mark a significant milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of inclusive, responsive, and sustainable health development—reinforcing the central role of legislation in driving public service transformation.
