The Senate has passed the bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology in Jos, Plateau State, a move expected to strengthen Nigeria’s diagnostic capacity, expand biomedical research and improve healthcare delivery.
The legislation, which originated in the House of Representatives, was approved during plenary after lawmakers, sitting at the Committee of the Whole and presided over by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, unanimously adopted the bill.
The proposed institution is expected to serve as a specialised university dedicated to training medical laboratory scientists, advancing biomedical research and innovation, and producing skilled professionals to improve disease diagnosis and bolster Nigeria’s health security.
Presenting the bill, Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele urged lawmakers to support it alongside two other health and education-related bills, describing them as critical interventions for national development.
The Senate also approved the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Federal Universities of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
In addition, the upper chamber passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Federal Medical Centres Act to establish a Federal Medical Centre in Argungu, Kebbi State.
The House of Representatives had earlier argued that the specialised university would improve access to quality healthcare by strengthening local diagnostic services and reducing the growing number of Nigerians travelling abroad for medical treatment due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
Reacting to the Senate’s approval, the Provost and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, Prof. Sunday Etukudoh, described the development as a major milestone for Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
“COVID-19 stripped us bare and whispered a truth we must never forget: A nation that cannot diagnose cannot defend itself,” Prof. Etukudoh said.
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He described the passage of the bill as a bold step toward strengthening Nigeria’s health security, scientific independence and the future of medical laboratory education.
Calling on the federal government to ensure the institution begins operations without delay, Prof. Etukudoh said the proposed university would play a strategic role in developing the country’s healthcare workforce.
“I call on the federal government to prioritise this university. Nigeria’s health security hangs on it. Nigeria’s youth’s destiny hangs on it. Nigeria’s scientific independence hangs on it,” he said.
The provost disclosed that the institution’s permanent site already has major academic infrastructure, including an ultra-modern auditorium, two-storey administrative and classroom buildings, an electronic library, and modern diagnostic and research laboratories.
However, he lamented the lack of student accommodation despite the institution’s decades-long existence.
“We have built the classrooms of a university. We have raised the laboratories of a university. What remains is to build the home of a university. A university without hostels is a body without a heart,” he said.
Prof. Etukudoh also urged students to embrace artificial intelligence, noting that emerging technologies would significantly transform medical diagnostics, biomedical research and healthcare delivery.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin commended lawmakers for their support during the consideration of the bills, describing the approvals as evidence of the Senate’s commitment to national development.
Established from a medical laboratory training unit created in 1954 before becoming a federal college in 2006, the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, has trained thousands of medical laboratory scientists serving across Nigeria’s healthcare system.
