*The Nigerian House of Representatives members, and other stakeholders converge on the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, Abuja, for a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
The House of Representatives, in the National Assembly (NASS), Abuja, FCT, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, took a major step towards regulating nutrition practice and improving access to professional services for Nigerians to make necessary sound nutritional choices.
The Federal lawmakers, and other stakeholders converged on the Green Chamber for a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.
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Declaring the public hearing open, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives, stated that the House constituted a Standing Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in recognition of the effect of nutrition on education, health expenditure and the overall capacity of citizens to contribute to national development.
Hon. Ibrahim Halims, Deputy Leader of the House of Reps, represented Speaker Abbas at the hearing Tuesday.
The Speaker urged stakeholders to approach the hearing with a shared commitment to enacting a law that would provide a solid regulatory framework, and improve the quality of nutrition services available to the Nigerian public.
Abbas also said: “I urge all stakeholders to approach this hearing with candour, technical rigour and a shared commitment to national interest.
“Parliament must legislate with ambition, but also with prudence.
“A sound law must address a demonstrable need, establish workable institutions and provide a credible pathway from legislative intent to effective implementation.”
He further noted: “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.
“By getting the regulatory framework right, we can strengthen preventive healthcare , reduce avoidable health burdens and contribute to the development of a healthier and more productive population.”
The Speaker commended the Hon. Chike Okafor-led Committee on Nutrition and Food Security as well as other key stakeholders, including the Nutrition Society of Nigeria for spearheading the proposed bill.
Earlier in his welcome address, Hon. Okafor had explained that public hearings are held to gather feedback, evidence, and opinions from citizens, experts, and stakeholders before a proposed law is finalised.
The legislator assured that the House is neutral and unbiased, and that the actual feedback from stakeholders would influence further legislative action on the bill.
Okafor also said: “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.
“I, therefore, plead with each speaker to see his or her role today as a contribution to law making and national development.
“We aim for good laws having known the consequences of bad ones”.
The Federal lawmaker further stated: “The presence of the Honourable Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, to declare this hearing open reiterates the importance the leadership attaches to this public hearing and its importance in the process of law-making.
According to him, Mr. Speaker can aptly be described as the “man who saw tomorrow with the establishment of Committee on Nutrition and Food Security for the first time in the history of the National Assembly and Parliament and encouraging the establishment of same in the sub regional houses of Assembly.”