Strengthen Safety Protocols In Unity Schools- Reps Urge Stakeholders

The House of Representatives
has urged the Federal Ministry of Education to strengthen health and safety protocols in all federal unity colleges.

The lawmakers also called on the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, and the NCDC to intensify diphtheria vaccination and awareness campaigns in schools across the country.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent Public Importance Sponsored by a member from Ekiti State, Mr Akintunde Rotimi who called for urgent action to address the recent diphtheria outbreak at King’s College Lagos, which resulted in the death of a 12-year-old student and several others hospitalised.

In his lead debate, Mr Rotimi expressed deep concern over the incident, citing significant lapses in infection prevention and control measures in federal unity colleges.

He also noted that the outbreak highlights the Federal Ministry of Education’s responsibility to ensure the health and safety of students in its institutions.

Rotimi who is also the Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs cited data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), showing that 24,804 confirmed cases of diphtheria across 25 states in Nigeria between week 19 of 2022 and week 04 of 2025, resulting in 1,269 fatalities across 18 states.

Adopting the motion, the house mandated the House Committees on Health and Basic Education to engage with relevant agencies to assess and enhance infection prevention and emergency response measures in federal schools.

The House further directed the Federal Ministry of Education to undertake an urgent review of health infrastructure in unity colleges and establish a clear framework to respond to infectious disease outbreaks.

The lawmakers commended the Lagos State Government, the NCDC, and other health authorities for their swift response to the outbreak and encouraged continued collaboration between federal and state agencies to safeguard the health and well-being of students.

The House also recommended that the federal government provide compensation to the family of the deceased student and observed a moment of silence in his honour.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji