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 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 Argungu, Kebbi State.
Earlier, while passing the bill, the House of Representatives 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 abroad for medical treatment due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
