Senate Approves Bill to Create Nigeria’s Microbiology Council

Senate Deputy President Senator Barau Jibrin has introduced a bill to create the Microbiology Council of Nigeria, aiming to regulate microbiology practice and raise professional standards across the country.

The proposal, titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Microbiology Council of Nigeria,” passed its second reading during a Tuesday plenary session and was sent to the appropriate committee for further consideration.

During the debate, Senator Jibrin emphasized that the council would fill long‑standing gaps in the profession. “The bill seeks to regulate and control the profession of microbiology to enhance the professional conduct of microbiologists,” he said.

He added that establishing the council would boost practitioners’ competence and strengthen microbiology’s role in public health, food safety, and environmental protection. “The absence of a regulatory body has affected the structure and development of the profession over the years,” he noted.

According to the senator, the council would act as a professional regulatory body, setting standards, monitoring practice, and fostering the growth of microbiology in Nigeria. He also mentioned that the council would be self‑financing and would not depend on government funding.

Other lawmakers who spoke in favor of the bill described it as timely and essential for advancing scientific and professional development in the country.

Following the discussion, the Senate approved the bill for second reading, allowing it to move to the committee stage for further scrutiny.