Reps To Pass Bill Establishing Nutritionists Registration Council
The House of Representatives on Thursday considered a bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.
The initiative is aimed at regulating the nutrition profession, eliminating quackery and strengthening the country’s response to malnutrition, food insecurity and other nutrition-related public health challenges.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by the member representing Okigwe South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Chike Okafor, scaled second reading during plenary.
Leading the debate, Okafor described the bill as “a necessary legislative response to a ticking time bomb of malnutrition and food insecurity” threatening Nigeria’s socio-economic development and the wellbeing of its citizens.
He said the proposed council would regulate, control and standardise the practice of nutrition in Nigeria while protecting members of the public from unqualified practitioners.
According to the lawmaker, the title “Nutritionist” is currently not protected by law, creating room for unqualified persons to practise and undermining the integrity of the profession.
“The bill is the necessary legislative response to close that gap, protecting the public from unqualified practitioners. By regulating the nutrition profession, we ensure the public can distinguish between a clinically trained dietitian for disease management and a nutritionist focused on general nutrition value chains and the wellness of Nigerians,” he said.
Okafor dismissed concerns that the proposed legislation could create jurisdictional conflicts with the proposed Dietitians Council Bill, explaining that nutritionists and dietitians perform different but complementary roles within the healthcare system.
He explained that while dietitians provide clinical nutrition services for the treatment and management of diet-related illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease in hospitals, nutritionists focus primarily on community nutrition, maternal and child health, nutrition education, food systems, policy development, research and programme implementation.
The lawmaker expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening nutrition indicators, citing findings from the 2023/2024 National Demographic and Health Survey, which he said showed rising cases of child malnutrition, stunting and maternal anaemia.
He noted that despite substantial investments by the Federal Government and development partners, including the $232m Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria programme, the country continues to record poor nutrition outcomes.
According to him, “there is an obvious disconnect between accountability, resource allocation and successful policy implementation,” a situation he attributed to the absence of a regulatory framework for nutrition professionals.
Okafor said the proposed council would establish a comprehensive register for nutritionists and nutrition assistants, prescribe minimum educational and professional standards, regulate registration and licensing, and investigate allegations of professional misconduct through disciplinary procedures.
He added that the council would work with federal and state health authorities, the National Universities Commission and international development partners to strengthen nutrition education, research and sustainable food systems.
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The lawmaker further assured his colleagues that the proposed regulatory body would be self-financing through internally generated revenue, similar to other professional councils in the country, and would not impose an additional burden on government finances.
He argued that the legislation would enhance the deployment of qualified nutrition professionals to hospitals, primary healthcare centres, schools, correctional facilities and other public institutions, thereby improving nutrition services and promoting evidence-based approaches to addressing food and health challenges.
Describing the bill as “a vital tool for public health protection,” Okafor urged lawmakers to support its passage.
“This bill is a necessary instrument to professionalise the nutrition workforce, protect public health and ensure accountability and value for the massive investments in nutrition. It is about safeguarding our future by ensuring our people have access to the best possible advice on what to eat for optimum health,” he said.
The bill seeks to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria as the statutory body responsible for the registration, licensing, regulation and continuing professional development of nutrition practitioners across the country.
Nigeria continues to face one of the highest burdens of malnutrition globally. According to government and international health agencies, millions of children suffer from stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies, while maternal malnutrition remains a significant public health concern.
Experts have consistently argued that strengthening the nutrition workforce and improving professional standards are critical to achieving better health outcomes and meeting the country’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition.
