The House of Representatives has taken a step toward strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system with the consideration of a bill proposing the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Saki, Oyo State.
The bill, listed as Item No. 11 on Tuesday’s Order Paper, is formally titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Medical Centres Act and Establish Federal Medical Centre, Saki, Oyo State for the Provision of Tertiary Healthcare Services, Medical Education and for Related Matters (HB.1356).”
Sponsored by Hon. Kareem Tajudeen Abisodun, who represents Saki West/Saki East/Atisbo Federal Constituency, the proposal was presented to the House by Hon. Patrick Umoh, Chairman of the House Committee on Health Institutions. The bill was initially laid before the House on February 18, 2025.
Hon. Abisodun, a strong advocate for healthcare development, said the proposed institution aims to bring quality medical services closer to the underserved populations of Oyo State and neighbouring communities in the southwest, particularly Saki, a strategic border town with a growing population that has long needed a federally-backed tertiary health institution.
According to the report by the Health Institutions Committee, the amendment seeks to create the statutory and institutional framework for a full-fledged Federal Medical Centre that will deliver specialized and advanced medical care, serve as a hub for medical training and research, and ease pressure on overstretched healthcare facilities in the region.
Hon. Umoh emphasized that the bill aligns with national health policy objectives, particularly the decentralization of health services and improved access to quality care. He added that the FMC in Saki would promote regional development, boost medical capacity, and create employment opportunities for health workers.
The bill forms part of a coordinated legislative effort to modernize Nigeria’s healthcare laws to reflect evolving needs. During the same plenary session, the House also considered similar proposals for new FMCs in Achi (Enugu), Okehi (Kogi), and Orile (Lagos), underscoring the House’s commitment to a more equitable and accessible health sector across the country.
If passed into law, the Federal Medical Centre, Saki, will represent a major development for healthcare in Oyo State and its environs.
