Role of the National Assembly in Promoting the Health Sector in Nigeria, A Study of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
Thesis
The resesarch is undertaken to examine the role of the eighth and ninth national assembly in promoting the health sector in Nigeria; using the federal capital territory of Nigeria as a case study. The objective of the research is (1) Examine the laws passed National Aassembly toward the improvement of health sector of the Federal Capital Territory. (2) Analyze the major constraint on the production of health bills to improve healthcare. (3) identify challenges to health policies in Nigeria .In achieving this, the work relies on descriptive approach, structural questionnaire and interview were used for data collection and statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. A sample size of one hundred and twenty nine srespondents across the six local government area council of FCT was used for the study. The research finding revealed that bills passed by the national assembly did not improve Nigeria’s health sector development positively and laws made by them did not significantly aid workers to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently. It is obvious from the respondents that inadequate funding, mismanagement and lack of adequate medical personnel were the major factors affecting health sector in FCT, Abuja in particular and Nigeria general. Lack of professionalism in the various committees of the National Assembly and agencies of government are also some of the constraints that affected production of bills that would have improve health sector in Nigeria. Majority of the respondents engaged in the practice of self medication despite its consequences. Financial Constraint and bureaucratic problem in the hospital system was part the major reasons for the practice of self medication. The research recommeds that any bills to be passed into laws by the National Assembly should include the input of stakeholders in health sectors and general public. Qualified professional should be appointed to head committees of National Assembly, departments and agencies of government in charge of policy formulation. National health insurances that are compulsory for all Nigerians, will eliminate self medication and its negative consequences on Nigerians. Finally, Federal Government, State and Local government should provide Political will to properly plan, formulate and implement policies and enacted laws that will solved the challenges of health sector development in Nigeria.