The Kogi State House of Assembly through its House Committee on Judiciary Justice and Protocols has convened a public hearing Bill for a law to provide for the Confluence University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Okene (Establishment) Law and other matters connected thereto, 2024.
Declaring the event open, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf said the bill when passed into law, aims to provide facilities for training students in medical and allied courses as well as offering healthcare services in line with international best practices, among other connected purposes.
“Today is unique, unique in the sense that it is at this stage that the Bill enters into theatre for surgery and it is at this stage that any stakeholder who have interest in any law that comes to existence will have the opportunity to make an input”.
The Speaker affirmed the House commitment to thoroughly review all submissions, including both soft and hard copies of position papers on the Bills provided by participants.
“Please be open to make your contributions to the bill, come up with observation, criticism and other inputs that will strengthen the law, I want to believe that with the memorandum you have submitted and the oral speech you’re going to make here will go a long way to inform the honorable members to take an informed decision so that quality laws will be made for the good governance of our dear State”.
While commending the immediate past governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for taking the right decision in establishing the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara and the Reference Hospital, Okene, the Speaker appreciated the traditional rulers, stakeholders and the general public for attending the public hearing.
The Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary Justice and Protocols and Member representing Idah State Constituency, Hon. Halidu Usman Kogi expressed gratitude to all participants for their presence at the crucial public hearing.
Emphasising the significance of setting up the State University Teaching Hospital, Halidu highlighted its pivotal role in educating and training medical students and professionals from Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara to deliver exceptional medical care to the people of Kogi State and beyond, thereby reducing the demand for urgent medical attention significantly.
The law maker noted that the establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, would not only enhance healthcare services in the State but also create a conducive environment for education and research.
In his contributions, the Chief Medical Director, Reference Hospital, Okene, Professor Solomon Avidime said the Teaching Hospital when established will attract more funding and human resources as well as a robust services.
“By virtue of this public hearing today, we could see that the various aspects of the act had contributions from members present, and this is robust and we are thinking that it will also function better especially as a Teaching Hospital attached to the University”.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Professor Abdulrahman Salawu said without a teaching hospital, the university will not be accredited to train students of the newly licenced Medical courses of the university.
He appreciated Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for consolidating on the gains made by former Governor Yahaya Bello for ensuring that the university stands the test of time.
Stakeholders and members of the public present at the public hearing included representatives from the State Ministry of Health, Hospital Management Board, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), among others.