Reps Move to Regulate Nutrition Practice, Protect Nigerians from Harmful Advice

The House of Representatives has moved to strengthen the regulation of nutrition practice in Nigeria, with lawmakers and stakeholders convening on Tuesday for a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.

The proposed legislation seeks to provide a regulatory framework for nutrition professionals, promote professional competence and improve access to reliable nutrition services to enable Nigerians make informed dietary and nutritional choices.

Declaring the hearing open, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said the establishment of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security reflected the growing recognition of nutrition as a critical factor in public health, education, healthcare expenditure and national development.

Abbas urged stakeholders to approach the bill with technical expertise, candour and a commitment to the national interest, stressing that effective legislation must address identifiable needs, establish workable institutions and provide a clear path to implementation.

He cautioned that the success of the proposed law should not be measured by the creation of another regulatory institution but by its ability to protect Nigerians from harmful or misleading nutritional advice and improve the quality of services available to the public.

“Ultimately, the measure of this bill will not be the creation of another institution but whether it strengthens professional competence, protects Nigerians from harmful or misleading advice and improves the quality of nutrition services available to the public,” he said.

The Speaker added that a sound regulatory framework could strengthen preventive healthcare, reduce avoidable health burdens and contribute to building a healthier and more productive population.

He commended the Chike Okafor-led House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security and other stakeholders, including the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, for their contributions to the proposed legislation.

Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Chike Okafor, said the public hearing was designed to obtain evidence, expert opinions and feedback from citizens and relevant stakeholders before the House makes further decisions on the bill.

Okafor assured participants that the committee had not predetermined its position on the proposed legislation, adding that all submissions, whether in support of or against the bill, would be carefully considered before a recommendation was presented to the House in plenary.

“As a committee, we have no bias or already decided opinion, but we will collate all opinions canvassed by you today, either for or against, before making our recommendation to the general House in plenary for consideration,” he said.

He urged participants to regard their contributions as an important part of the legislative process and the broader effort to advance national development.

“We aim for good laws, having known the consequences of bad ones,” he added.

The committee chairman also praised Abbas for establishing the Committee on Nutrition and Food Security for the first time in the history of the National Assembly, describing the initiative as evidence of the House leadership’s recognition of the importance of nutrition and food security.

He noted that the Speaker had also encouraged the establishment of similar committees in subnational legislatures, a move he said could strengthen legislative attention to nutrition and food security across the country.

The public hearing provides an opportunity for professional bodies, experts and other stakeholders to examine the proposed regulatory framework and offer recommendations that could shape the bill before further legislative consideration.