By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards combating tuberculosis (TB) in the country. Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Malaria Control, Rt. Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, has assured that the parliament will take decisive legislative actions to fight TB.
Speaking at the Re-Launch of the Nigeria Parliamentary TB Caucus, Ogah emphasized the importance of lawmakers leveraging their positions to strengthen Nigeria’s TB response. He promised to mobilize parliamentarians to sign up for the caucus and champion policies that will enhance TB detection, treatment, and prevention.
Ogah highlighted the alarming fact that nearly 70% of Global Fund-supported countries are facing budget shortfalls for TB response, with 10 nations alone facing a $600 million deficit in 2025. He warned that Nigeria must increase domestic resource mobilization, particularly since most African countries, including Nigeria, have yet to meet the Abuja Declaration target of allocating 15% of their national budgets to health.
To address the funding gap, Ogah urged Parliament to intensify advocacy and push for greater financial commitments from the government. He also vowed that the caucus would work towards laws that protect TB patients from stigma and discrimination while improving their access to healthcare.
The Speaker, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, also emphasized the need for bold legislative action and increased funding to combat TB. He described TB as a longstanding but often overlooked health crisis, stressing that urgent interventions are needed to curb its devastating impact.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria remains the seventh-highest TB-burdened country globally and second in Africa, with 361,000 new cases recorded in 2023—a 26% increase from the previous year. The Speaker emphasized the urgent need for stronger awareness campaigns, improved healthcare infrastructure, and legislative measures to bridge the treatment gap.
The House of Representatives has already taken steps to prioritize health reforms, including increasing the national health budget in line with the Abuja Declaration. The House has also proposed amendments to the National Health Act, raising Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) funding from 1% to 2% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The TB Parliamentary Caucus aims to strengthen Nigeria’s TB response by mobilizing resources, influencing policy decisions, and ensuring greater accountability in TB eradication efforts. The caucus has received praise from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who committed over ₦700 billion to Nigeria’s health system, including TB interventions.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s House of Representatives is taking decisive steps to combat TB, with a focus on increasing funding, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and protecting the rights of TB patients. With the support of the TB Parliamentary Caucus and the government, Nigeria aims to meet its 2030 target to end TB, as outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
