The Kogi State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking to provide free maternal and neonatal healthcare services to pregnant women and newborn babies across the state.
The Kogi State Free Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare Services Bill, 2025, was passed alongside the Kogi State College of Agriculture, Ochaja-Egume Establishment Bill, 2026, following clause-by-clause consideration and adoption by the Committee of the Whole.
The bills subsequently scaled their third and final readings.
Speaking after the passage, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, said the free healthcare legislation was designed to remove financial barriers preventing pregnant women and newborns from accessing essential medical services at government-owned health facilities.
He expressed concern that some women had been unable to receive necessary medical treatment because they could not afford basic healthcare expenses.
Rt. Hon. Yusuf stressed that no pregnant woman or newborn should be denied essential healthcare because of financial difficulties.
The Speaker therefore appealed to the state executive to assent to the bill, saying its implementation would enable more residents to benefit from government interventions in the health sector and improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
On the College of Agriculture Bill, Rt. Hon. Yusuf said the proposed institution would provide young people and other residents with opportunities to acquire agricultural knowledge and practical skills within the state.
He said the institution would complement efforts to diversify Kogi’s economy through agriculture by increasing productivity, creating employment opportunities, generating revenue and contributing to economic growth.
The Speaker commended members of the Assembly for their contributions and participation in the debates and public hearings that preceded the passage of the two bills.
He described the legislation as measures aimed at improving the well-being of Kogi residents and advancing the state’s agricultural development.
