On Tuesday the controversial health bill on Vaccine titled, “Control of Infection Diseases Bill 2020,” which surfaced first in the House of Representatives, has been submitted for debate in the Senate.
The version of Senate is titled, “National Health Emergency Bill; 2020.
The bill was sponsored by the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial district and also the Chairman of Senate Committee on Health, Chukwuka Utazi.
Though the bill scaled first reading at the Senate, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is also another lawmaker from Enugu State and of the Peoples Democratic Party ironically kicked against the bill after it passed the first reading.
Expressing his reservations on the bill, Senator Ekweremadu demanded for the draft copy of the bill in line with the tradition of legislative debate on bills.
“I haven’t seen the draft of this bill and I think nobody has seen it to study its contents and it’s important we have it before next adjourned date,” Ekweremadu said.
In his remark, Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan ordered the sponsor of the bill to make copies available to Senators before the next sitting.
Lawan also ruled that the bill will be tabled for second reading on Tuesday, next week.
It was reported that a group, Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) alleged a $10 million bribe for accelerated passage of the bill, a claim that the House of Representatives was yet to react to, hours after.
