The National Assembly and Public Health Care in Nigeria

Abstract

The health sector in Nigeria has been characterized by poor public health care services. The broad objective of the study was to examine the roles, effects and challenges of the National Assembly towards public health care in Nigeria between 1999 and 2019. The study was motivated by the need to highlight the contributions and challenges of the National Assembly towards efficient public health care delivery in Nigeria. The study adopted both primary and secondary sources of data. Two hundred (200) respondents consisting of purposively selected members of the National Assembly serving in committees relevant to health care, public health care providers, and patients from public hospitals constituted the study population. Content analysis of document was used to examine the role of the National Assembly towards public health care delivery. Fixed alternative questionnaire served as the research instrument for investigating the effects and the challenges of the National Assembly to PHC. Descriptive method was adopted in the analysis of respondents’ responses. Findings showed that the National Assembly as an institution was yet to fully utilize its constitutional role and mandate towards achieving efficient and effective public health care in Nigeria. Allegations of corrupt practices, poor public perception and insufficient awareness about the role of National Assembly towards public health care delivery were among major challenges of the National Assembly towards public health care delivery in Nigeria. The study recommended that the National Assembly may consider being more proactive in its lawmaking, oversight and representation activities that could be beneficial to public health care. The study also recommended the need to strengthen the legislature’s knowledge about public health care through training. It was, further, recommended that the National Assembly in collaboration with relevant partners may consider how to intensify efforts in creating awareness on its role in public health care to all Nigerian.