The Senate, on Tuesday, passed three concurrence bills transmitted by the House of Representatives and advanced a bill seeking to establish the Federal Medical Centre, Argungu in Kebbi State.
The bills were presented by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during plenary.
They include the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos (Establishment) Bill, 2026; and the Federal Universities of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, said the bills were transmitted from the House for Senate concurrence and urged lawmakers to support their passage.
Sitting as the Committee of the Whole, the Senate considered and passed the three bills after a unanimous vote.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, commended senators for their contributions and cooperation which ensured the smooth passage of the bills.
In another development, the Senate passed for second reading a bill to amend the Federal Medical Centres Act and establish the Federal Medical Centre, Argungu, Kebbi State.
Leading the debate, Senator Abubakar Abdullahi, Kebbi North, expressed concern over the rising number of Nigerians seeking medical treatment abroad due to inadequate healthcare facilities at home.
He said strengthening healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to quality medical services would enable citizens to receive treatment locally, while also reducing medical tourism and the attendant loss of foreign exchange.
“We must build facilities capable of delivering quality healthcare to our people. This will reduce unnecessary overseas medical trips and strengthen our healthcare system,” Abdullahi said.
The senator described the proposed medical centre as critical to improving healthcare delivery in Kebbi State and neighboring communities, and appealed to his colleagues to support the legislation.
Following contributions from lawmakers, the bill scaled second reading.
Barau subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health for further legislative action.
