Nigeria’s House of Representatives advances landmark TB rights bill
- Global TB Caucus
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Nigeria has taken an important step towards protecting the rights and dignity of people affected by tuberculosis after the House of Representatives passed the Tuberculosis Rights Bill through its second reading.
The proposed legislation, formally 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, advanced during a plenary session on 9 June 2026.
Sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, Chair of the House Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, alongside 12 other lawmakers, the bill seeks to prohibit TB-related discrimination, strengthen legal protections and ensure that people affected by TB can access health services without fear of stigma, exclusion or unfair treatment.
The bill responds to the social and legal barriers that continue to prevent many people from seeking timely diagnosis, treatment and care. People affected by TB may face discrimination in workplaces, schools, health facilities and their communities, with serious consequences for their health, livelihoods and wellbeing.
By establishing clear legal safeguards, the proposed legislation would help ensure that no person is denied care, employment, education or opportunity because they have or have previously had TB.
Years of advocacy translated into political action
The bill follows years of advocacy by people who have survived TB, civil society organisations, healthcare professionals, legal experts and development partners.
This work gained further momentum during a National Parliamentary Retreat held in Lagos in November 2024, where lawmakers and health stakeholders developed recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s rights-based response to TB. These discussions contributed to the development and introduction of the proposed legislation.
The process has received support from the Stop TB Partnership through its Challenge Facility for Civil Society, the Global Fund, the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme and Lawyers Alert Nigeria.
Dr Rommy Mom, President of Lawyers Alert, described the bill’s advancement as a significant milestone in efforts to protect people affected by TB.
“This is a significant milestone in our collective efforts to protect the rights and dignity of people living with and affected by tuberculosis. We must continue to ensure that affected communities remain actively engaged as the legislative process progresses.”
The legislation also reflects the central role parliamentarians can play in turning advocacy into laws that improve people’s lives. Through legislation, oversight and sustained engagement with affected communities, lawmakers can address the barriers that medical services alone cannot overcome.
TB advocate and survivor Ekong Francis Ubong welcomed the bill as a clear commitment to dignity and equality.
“The bill represents a strong commitment to dignity, equality and non-discrimination for people affected by tuberculosis. It sends a clear message that no one should face discrimination or exclusion because of their health status.”
Community participation will be essential
The bill will now proceed to committee consideration and public hearing. This next stage will provide an important opportunity for people affected by TB, civil society organisations, health professionals, legal experts and other stakeholders to help shape the final legislation.
Advocates have called for broad and meaningful consultation to ensure that the law reflects the lived experiences of people affected by TB across Nigeria.
Community participation will be critical to identifying gaps, strengthening accountability measures and ensuring that the protections contained in the bill can be implemented effectively.
Lawyers Alert and its partners have called on government institutions, development partners, donors, professional bodies, civil society organisations and the media to support the legislative process and create space for affected communities to be heard.
Protecting rights strengthens the TB response
Stigma and discrimination do not only violate human rights. They also undermine public health.
Fear of losing employment, being excluded from school or facing rejection from family and community members can prevent people from seeking testing and treatment. A strong legal framework can help remove these barriers, improve access to care and strengthen trust in health services.
The passage of the bill through its second reading is therefore more than a legislative milestone. It is an important step towards a people-centred TB response in which dignity, equality and access to care are protected by law.
As the bill moves forward, sustained political leadership and meaningful community engagement will be essential to ensure that its promise becomes reality.
Nigeria now has an opportunity to demonstrate that ending TB requires more than medical progress. It requires laws, policies and institutions that protect every person affected by the disease.
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