Senate Advances Bill to Allow Medical College Award PhD Degrees

The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria could gain the authority to award doctoral degrees in specialised medical fields under a proposed amendment that has advanced in the Nigerian Senate.

The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele passed second reading during plenary at the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. A separate bill seeking to strengthen the operational independence of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) also passed the same legislative stage.

Proposed Changes to Medical Education

Bamidele told lawmakers that the proposed amendment would expand the National Postgraduate Medical College’s existing responsibilities beyond professional postgraduate examinations to include academic programmes leading to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

The proposed powers would cover clinical medicine, dentistry and related disciplines, with doctoral programmes operating under the accreditation and regulatory framework of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

According to the Senate Leader, the change would strengthen the connection between specialist medical training, clinical research and advanced academic development.

He said the amendment would provide a legal foundation for the college to contribute more directly to medical research, specialised knowledge and clinical scholarship.

The bill was seconded by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno.

However, the proposal remains subject to further legislative consideration and does not yet authorise the college to award the proposed PhD degrees.

Senate Considers Changes to Safety Investigation Bureau

The Senate also advanced a separate amendment to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Act, which governs the agency responsible for investigating transportation accidents and incidents.

Bamidele said the proposed changes were intended to strengthen the bureau’s institutional independence and operational autonomy.

The amendment seeks to remove certain ministerial approval and recommendation requirements from the bureau’s appointment and administrative procedures. Its proponents say the changes would improve the effectiveness and credibility of safety investigations.

The Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Olalere Oyewunmi, seconded the bill.

What Happens Next?

Following the deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the medical college amendment to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund for further consideration.

He also referred the proposed amendment to the NSIB Act to the Senate Committee on Aviation.

Both committees will handle the next stages of legislative scrutiny before the bills return for further consideration.

The proposals must complete the required legislative process before any resulting amendments can become law.