The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has told the National Assembly to ‘step down’ the Infectious Diseases Bill until all necessary procedures were followed.
The NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi disclosed this in a statement after a virtual meeting of the governors on Wednesday.
According to the NGF Chairman, the governors expressed that for a bill of such nature to be passed by the lawmakers, the bill must create an avenue for consultations with the state governments and other stakeholders.
Fayemi noted that to this end a committee set up, comprising the Governors of Katsina, Sokoto, and Plateau States – Aminu Masari, Aminu Tambuwal, and Simon Lalong, to lead a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on the proposed bill.
Part of the statement reads: “The Forum resolved that the Bill should be stepped down until an appropriate consultative process is held, including a public hearing to gather public opinion and concerns.
“In the light of this, the Forum established a Committee comprising the Governors of Katsina, Sokoto, and Plateau to lead a consultative meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on the proposed Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020.
“The NGF Secretariat was also mandated to comprehensively review the Bill and its implication on States.”