No fewer than 1,000 medical laboratory scientists under the aegis of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Akwa Ibom State Branch, recently staged a peaceful protest in Uyo, rejecting the proposed Health Reform Executive Bills (HB 2701 and HB 2695) currently before the National Assembly.

The association described the proposed legislations as “outrageous, anti-social and dangerous,” insisting that the Federal Government must avoid what it termed “avoidable operational and legal conflicts” within Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Chairman of AMLSN, Dr. Ekerete Bassey, declared that medical laboratory scientists would resist any attempt to weaken the profession’s autonomy or subject it to political or bureaucratic interference.

“This is a very sad day for us,” he said. “Medical Laboratory Scientists operate through precision, not assumption. The essence of this briefing is to voice our grievance that Medical Laboratory Scientists must be allowed to exist in line with global and international best practices.”

The association maintained that it was opposed to any amendment of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act that would erode the independence of the profession.

According to the group, “only alignment with global regulatory best practices is acceptable in Nigeria,” while warning against “selfish reforms designed to impose non-medical laboratory science professionals on the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.”

The scientists also rejected what they described as “regulatory overload and duplication of interests,” insisting that professional autonomy must be respected.

Reading the association’s official memorandum addressed to the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly through the House Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security, Dr. Bassey warned that the Health Reform Executive Bills 2026 pose “grave risks” to patient safety, professional independence and national health security.

The memorandum specifically faulted HB 2701, which seeks amendment of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act Cap M25 LFN 2004, alongside HB 2695, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2026.
According to the association, the bills would expand ministerial control over professional councils and introduce non-professionals into highly technical regulatory positions.

“Replacement of expert-led regulation with bureaucratic and political oversight will compromise credibility and weaken evidence-based decision-making,” the memorandum stated.

The association further alleged that Section 8(g-j) of HB 2695 would create dangerous overlaps in highly specialised areas of medical laboratory science, including molecular diagnostics, cytogenetics, assisted reproductive technologies, embryo manipulation, genetic testing and paternity analysis.

“This will create jurisdictional conflicts, role ambiguity and increase the risk of unqualified practice,” the group warned.

The laboratory scientists also argued that the proposed reforms could weaken diagnostic standards and ultimately endanger patients.

“Weakened regulatory rigour and politicised standards will inevitably degrade healthcare quality,” the association stated, adding that the bills could lead to “increased medical errors, misdiagnosis, inappropriate care and loss of public trust.”

Furthermore, the association mentioned that the reforms run contrary to globally accepted standards of independent professional regulation.

“Globally, laboratory medicine is regulated by independent, specialised professional bodies guided by competency-based standards such as ISO 15189:2022,” the memorandum noted. “HB 2701 instead promotes politically influenced regulatory control, blurred professional boundaries and erosion of professional self-regulatory governance.”

The group, therefore, called on the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, and members of the National Assembly from the state to intervene urgently by rejecting the bills.
Experts Back Protest Against Bills.

Also speaking during the briefing, Dr. Anthony Usoro, Senior Lecturer at the University of Uyo, said the profession has clearly defined boundaries which must not be violated.

“We know what we stand for. The bill seeks to erode that autonomy, to take away our independence from us, and we say no,” he declared.

Usoro further said  that the proposed legislation appeared designed to place the profession under the control of a
single stakeholder.

“Medical Laboratory Scientists are the oracle of medical practice. Without them, you cannot do anything. Ours is empirical, not guesswork,” he added.

Similarly, Dr. Geoffrey Uzono, Deputy Director, Department of Laboratory Services, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, aligned himself with the position canvassed by the association, while Chief Patrick Utin, Chairman of the Planning Committee, demanded immediate action against the bills.

In a dramatic climax to the protest, a motion rejecting the bills was moved by Sunday Edet and seconded by Bassey Ibanga, after which members unanimously adopted the resolution rejecting the proposed laws and calling for reconsideration.

Prayers were also offered against the bills during the gathering.

Growing Opposition Within Health Sector
It was gathered that HB 2695 seeks to repeal and re-enact the existing Medical and Dental Practitioners Act regulating medical and dental practice in Nigeria, while HB 2701 proposes amendments to the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act, particularly in areas concerning governance structure, scope of professional practice and regulatory authority.

However, the bills have continued to generate controversy among health sector unions and professional bodies.

Groups such as the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations and Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy have also opposed aspects of the reforms, arguing that they could centralise excessive regulatory powers, weaken professional autonomy and trigger inter-professional conflicts within the health sector.

Although detailed official explanations from the Federal Government remain limited, supporters of the reforms reportedly stated that the bills are aimed at modernising outdated laws, improving professionalism and streamlining healthcare governance.

The bills were listed among Executive Bills before the 10th National Assembly and reportedly passed First Reading in the House of Representatives in March 2026.

Akwa Ibom Assembly Promises Further Scrutiny
Meanwhile, reacting to the protest at his premises in Uyo, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security and member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Hon. (Comrade) Moses Essien, who spoke on behalf of the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, commended the association for what he described as a commendable advocacy initiative.

“I want to commend all of you for this advocacy visit,” he said. “I am excited and I want to assure you that the position presented to me today will receive proper attention and consideration.”

The lawmaker noted that as chairman of the House Committee on Health, he remained open to engaging health professionals across various fields whenever the need arises.

“I have always looked forward to opportunities where health practitioners can ventilate their challenges. Whether morning, afternoon or evening, feel free to approach me because I am committed to ensuring an effective and efficient healthcare delivery system in Akwa Ibom State,” he stated.

Essien further said the concerns raised by the medical laboratory scientists could not be ignored, especially coming from professionals whose work depends on accuracy and scientific precision.

“If professionals who work through precision and not guesswork can critically examine a bill before the National Assembly and unanimously reject it, then as legislators, we must take their inputs, opinions, ideas and suggestions seriously in the lawmaking process,” he added.

He assured the association that he would carefully study the memorandum presented to him and hinted that the matter could eventually be raised on the floor of the House as an issue of urgent public importance.

According to him, lawmakers have a responsibility to resist policies or actions that are inconsistent with globally accepted standards and best practices in healthcare regulation.

“For you to come here today means you are meeting someone who can serve as your mouthpiece on the floor of the House of Assembly, and I sincerely assure you that I will not disappoint you,” he stressed.

The lawmaker also expressed appreciation to the association for presenting him with an award during the visit, describing the gesture as a mark of honour and recognition.

Essien equally commended the senior professionals, lecturers and members of the association for their large turnout and commitment to the profession.