The Bauchi State House of Assembly has raised concern over the increasing number of private health training institutions operating below acceptable standards in the state, warning that the development poses a serious risk to public health.
The alarm was raised following a motion presented during plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Health and member representing Sade Constituency, Lawal Dauda.
While moving the motion, Dauda lamented the rapid emergence of private health training institutions allegedly functioning without the required accreditation from relevant regulatory agencies such as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
He informed the House that several of the institutions are sited in inappropriate locations, lack qualified instructors and operate without essential facilities, including functional libraries, laboratories and adequate student accommodation.
“These deficiencies are dangerous,” Dauda warned, noting that graduates from such schools may be ill-prepared and incompetent to provide quality healthcare services.
“This is not just an educational issue; it is a public health crisis in the making.”
The lawmaker attributed the situation to poor enforcement of existing regulations and accused some school owners of prioritising profit over patient safety, a practice he said exposes the public to substandard healthcare services.
He added that the Governor of Bauchi State has also expressed concern over the growing number of unapproved health training institutions, stressing that their operations constitute a major threat to public health and safety.
Dauda consequently called for swift legislative action to regulate the sector, tighten oversight and safeguard the public from unqualified health practitioners.
The House is expected to engage relevant authorities in the coming days as pressure continues to mount on the state government to clean up the health training sector.
