The bill, titled Executive Bill HB:2701, alongside a related Senate version, seeks to amend key provisions of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act, particularly Sections 3 and 29, which define the governance structure and scope of medical laboratory science practice in Nigeria. At the heart of the controversy is the proposed restructuring of the governing board of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, the statutory body responsible for regulating laboratory science practice in Nigeria. Leadership in medical laboratory science cannot be detached from scientific competence,” he said. Globally, health systems in countries such as the United Kingdom, United States and South Africa maintain clear boundaries between professional regulatory bodies, with collaboration occurring at the level of clinical practice rather than governance. Another major concern raised by the association is the contradiction in Section 29 of the bill, which broadly defines medical laboratory science but limits practitioners’ role in diagnosis.

Source: Punch March 28, 2026 15:30 UTC