Nigeria Proposes Nutritionist Regulatory Council Bill

The Nigerian House of Representatives is taking steps to address the growing nutrition challenges in the country by proposing a bill to establish a Nutritionist Regulatory Council. Sponsored by Hon. Chike John Okafor, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, the bill passed its second reading on Thursday during a plenary session led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

The proposed legislation aims to create a legal framework to regulate the nutrition profession, which currently lacks standards and allows unqualified individuals to provide nutrition-related services. This situation has contributed to poor nutrition outcomes across Nigeria, exacerbating malnutrition and food insecurity.

The bill is designed to register and license qualified nutritionists, assist in accrediting training institutions, and enforce professional ethics. Okafor emphasized the need for legal protection of the title "nutritionist" to prevent abuse and quackery, distinguishing between the roles of nutritionists and dietitians within the healthcare system.

The council is proposed to be self-sustaining through professional fees without imposing additional financial burdens on the federal government.