TB Advocates, Stakeholders Applaud Passage of TB Rights Bill at Second Reading

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Tuberculosis (TB) affected communities, Civil Society Organizations and development partners have applauded the passage of the TB Rights Bill at Second Reading in the House of Representatives, describing the development as a major step towards protecting the rights and dignity of Nigerians living with and affected by tuberculosis.

The Bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Make Provision for the Prevention of TB-Based Discrimination and Protect the Fundamental Human Rights and Dignity of People Living with and Affected by TB,” was sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on AIDS, TB and Malaria, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, alongside 12 other lawmakers.

The proposed legislation was considered during plenary on June 9, 2026.

The stakeholders, in a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi, has described the passage of the Bill at Second Reading as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to address the human rights and social barriers that continue to undermine access to tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and support services across the country.

They said the Bill reflects growing recognition that ending tuberculosis requires not only medical interventions but also legal and social protections for affected individuals and communities.

They noted that despite progress made in the fight against tuberculosis, many Nigerians affected by the disease still experience stigma, discrimination, exclusion and violations of their fundamental rights, challenges health advocates say discourage individuals from seeking timely diagnosis and treatment, contributing to poor health outcomes and slowing efforts to end the disease.

President of Lawyers Alert, Dr. Rommy Mom, described the passage of the Bill at Second Reading as an important step towards ensuring justice and dignity for people affected by tuberculosis.

Mom stressed the need for meaningful community engagement throughout the public hearing process to ensure the final legislation reflects the needs, rights and experiences of those most affected by the disease.

Also speaking, TB survivor and advocate, Ekong Francis Ubong, said the Bill’s passage represents a commitment that no Nigerian should be denied dignity, care or opportunity because of tuberculosis.

He expressed happiness that the proposed law will protect the rights of persons affected by TB while addressing stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.

On her part, the Director of Programmes at the Global TB Caucus and Executive Director of Debriche Health Development Centre, Deborah Ikeh, described the development as more than a legislative milestone, saying it demonstrates strong political commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and accelerating progress towards ending TB in Nigeria.

As the Bill proceeds to the relevant committee for further legislative consideration and public hearing, Lawyers Alert and its partners have called on government institutions, development partners, donors, civil society organizations, professional associations, the media and members of the public to support meaningful community participation throughout the process.

Stakeholders maintain that community-led engagement will be critical in ensuring that the final legislation is inclusive, responsive and capable of addressing the social and structural barriers that continue to fuel the tuberculosis epidemic in Nigeria.

They expressed optimism that the Bill’s eventual passage into law will strengthen accountability, combat discrimination and advance health, human rights and social justice for all Nigerians affected by tuberculosis.

Meanwhile, the statement disclosed that the proposed legislation seeks to establish legal protections for people living with and affected by TB, promote respect for human dignity and strengthen access to healthcare services without fear of discrimination.

It cited Hon. Ogah speaking on the importance of rights-based approaches in tackling the disease saying the House Committee was interested and eager to expand discussions on the human rights perspective to TB response in Nigeria.

The legislative achievement follows years of advocacy by TB survivors, affected communities, civil society organizations, healthcare professionals, legal experts and development partners who have championed a rights-based and people-centred approach to tuberculosis programming in the country.

These efforts culminated in a National Parliamentary Retreat held in Lagos in November 2024, where parliamentarians, officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, the National TB Programme, the Global Fund, the Global TB Caucus, persons affected by TB, civil society organizations and media representatives contributed to a working document that eventually led to the presentation of the Bill.

The process received support from the Stop TB Partnership through its Challenge Facility for Civil Society Grant (CFCS), the Global Fund Nigeria and Lawyers Alert Nigeria, which facilitated stakeholder engagements. The initiative originated from the Stop TB Partnership’s CFCS grant to Lawyers Alert and has continued to gain momentum through support from stakeholders, affected communities and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme.