Health
Senate backs Jos medical laboratory varsity bill
Deborah Tolu-Kolawole
The Senate has passed the bill establishing the Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology in Jos, Plateau State, in a move expected to strengthen Nigeria’s diagnostic capacity, improve healthcare delivery and reduce the growing dependence on medical treatment abroad.
The bill, which originated in the House of Representatives, received the concurrence of the Senate during plenary on Tuesday after lawmakers unanimously approved it while sitting as the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
According to a copy of the bill obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, the proposed “university is expected to serve as a specialised institution for training medical laboratory scientists, advancing biomedical research and innovation, and producing skilled manpower to improve disease diagnosis and strengthen Nigeria’s health security.”
Presenting the legislation, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele urged lawmakers to support the measure, alongside two other bills, describing them as important interventions in the country’s health and education sectors.
The Senate subsequently approved 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.
The upper chamber also passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Federal Medical Centres Act to establish a Federal Medical Centre in Arugungu, Kebbi State.
Earlier, while passing the bill, the House of Representatives had noted that establishing the specialised university would improve access to quality healthcare by strengthening local diagnostic services and reducing the increasing number of Nigerians travelling overseas for medical treatment due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
Reacting to the Senate’s approval, the Provost and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, Prof. Sunday Nkereuwem Etukudoh, described the development as a landmark for Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“COVID-19 stripped us bare and whispered a truth we must never forget: A nation that cannot diagnose cannot defend itself,” he said.
Describing the passage of the bill as a significant milestone, Etukudoh added, “This is not bureaucracy. It is prophecy. Today, Nigeria has taken a bold step toward strengthening its health security, scientific independence and the future of medical laboratory education.”
He urged the Federal Government to ensure the institution takes off without delay.
“I call on the Federal Government to prioritise this university. Nigeria’s health security hangs on it. Nigeria’s youth destiny hangs on it. Nigeria’s scientific independence hangs on it,” he said.
Highlighting the institution’s level of preparedness, the provost said the permanent site already boasts modern academic infrastructure, including an ultra-modern auditorium, two-storey administrative and classroom buildings, an electronic library, and state-of-the-art diagnostic and research laboratories.
However, he lamented the absence of student accommodation despite decades of the institution’s existence.
“We have built the classrooms of a university. We have raised the laboratories of a university. What remains is to build the home of a university. A university without hostels is a body without a heart,” he said.
Etukudoh also urged students to embrace Artificial Intelligence, noting that emerging technologies would reshape medical diagnostics and healthcare delivery globally.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin commended senators for their cooperation during consideration of the bills, describing the legislative process as another demonstration of the Senate’s commitment to national development.
The Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, was established from a training unit created in 1954 under Nigeria’s Hospital Services before becoming a full-fledged Federal College in 2006. It has since trained thousands of medical laboratory scientists serving across Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
The proposed upgrade to a specialised federal university comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to strengthen health workforce development, biomedical research and disease surveillance following lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts have repeatedly identified weak diagnostic infrastructure and shortages of specialised personnel as major factors driving medical tourism.
Nigeria is estimated to lose billions of dollars annually to outbound medical tourism as many citizens seek specialised treatment, advanced diagnostic services and complex medical procedures abroad. Health stakeholders believe the establishment of the Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology will help build indigenous expertise, promote research and innovation, improve disease diagnosis and contribute to reducing the country’s reliance on foreign healthcare services.
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