HURIWA Urges NASS: Withdraw Nutritionists Council Bill Over Clarity Concerns

• HURIWA has called on the National Assembly to withdraw the proposed Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill, 2025 (HB 2659).
• The human rights group argues the bill fails to distinguish professional nutritional services from ordinary family guidance.
• HURIWA also states the bill does not clearly separate professional services from the transmission of traditional knowledge.
• The lack of clear definitions could lead to regulatory ambiguity and unintended consequences for various practices.
• The organization emphasizes the need for legislative precision to avoid overreach into cultural and informal dietary practices.

Lawyers advising clients in the health, food, or traditional medicine sectors in Nigeria should monitor the National Assembly's action on this bill, as its current wording could create ambiguity regarding the regulation of professional nutritional services versus traditional dietary guidance, potentially impacting compliance requirements.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has formally urged the National Assembly (NASS) to withdraw the proposed Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill, 2025 (HB 2659), which has passed its second reading and undergone a public hearing. This call highlights significant concerns regarding the clarity and scope of the legislation currently under consideration by the Nigerian parliament.

HURIWA's primary contention centers on the bill's failure to adequately differentiate between various forms of dietary advice and knowledge. Specifically, the organization points out that the proposed Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill, 2025 (HB 2659) lacks clear distinctions between professional nutritional services, informal family guidance on diet, and the culturally significant transmission of traditional knowledge related to food and health.

This intervention by HURIWA underscores a broader issue of legislative precision, particularly in areas that intersect with public health, cultural practices, and professional regulation. The advocacy group's stance suggests that without proper definitional clarity, the bill could lead to unintended consequences or overreach in its application.

The core of HURIWA's concern lies in the potential for regulatory ambiguity if the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill, 2025 (HB 2659) proceeds in its current form. Professional nutritional services typically involve trained experts providing evidence-based dietary advice, often in a clinical or structured setting, requiring specific qualifications and ethical standards. This contrasts sharply with the everyday advice shared within families, which is informal and generally not subject to professional oversight.

Furthermore, the bill's lack of distinction regarding the transmission of traditional knowledge presents a unique challenge. Many Nigerian communities possess rich, indigenous dietary practices and health remedies passed down through generations. These practices, while not always aligned with modern scientific nutritional frameworks, are integral to cultural heritage and community well-being. The Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill, 2025 (HB 2659) that does not explicitly carve out or respectfully address such traditional knowledge risks inadvertently criminalizing or stifling long-standing cultural practices.

Defining `Professional nutritional services definition Nigeria` precisely is crucial for any regulatory framework. Without this, the proposed council's mandate could become overly broad, potentially encompassing activities that are not intended for professional regulation, thereby creating confusion for both practitioners and the public.

The absence of clear boundaries within the proposed legislation could have far-reaching implications for various stakeholders across Nigeria. For trained nutritionists, it might create uncertainty regarding the scope of their regulated practice, while for individuals offering traditional dietary advice, it could introduce unexpected legal liabilities or requirements.

This situation highlights the importance of `HURIWA legislative advocacy Nigeria` in ensuring that new laws are robust, equitable, and sensitive to the country's diverse social and cultural landscape. The concern is that a bill intended to professionalize and regulate a specific field might inadvertently impact areas of life and culture that fall outside its intended scope, particularly concerning `Traditional knowledge nutrition bill` aspects.

Lawyers advising clients in the health, food, or traditional medicine sectors in Nigeria should monitor the National Assembly's action on this bill, as its current wording could create ambiguity regarding the regulation of professional nutritional services versus traditional dietary guidance, potentially impacting compliance requirements.

Source: Original reporting via Premium Times Nigeria