….seek establishment of Nutritionists Registration Council
By Gift Chapi Odekina, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Thursday considered a bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria as part of efforts to regulate the nutrition profession, tackle quackery and strengthen the country’s response to malnutrition and food insecurity.
Leading the debate on the proposed legislation, the sponsor, Rep. Chike Okafor, described the bill as “a necessary legislative response to a ticking time bomb of malnutrition and food insecurity” threatening Nigeria’s 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 the public from unqualified practitioners.
Okafor explained that the title “Nutritionist” is currently not legally protected in Nigeria, creating what he described as “the ugly balkanization of the profession” and exposing the sector to quacks.
“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.
The lawmaker clarified that the proposed legislation was not in conflict with the Dietitians Council Bill, stressing that both professions perform complementary but distinct functions.
According to him, while dietitians provide clinical nutrition services for the treatment of diet-related diseases such as diabetes and kidney disease in hospitals, nutritionists are primarily responsible for community and public health nutrition, maternal and child nutrition, nutrition policy, research and programme implementation.
Okafor expressed concern over rising malnutrition indicators in the country, citing the 2023/2024 National Demographic Health Survey, which he said showed increasing cases of child malnutrition, stunting and maternal anaemia.
He noted that despite billions of naira invested in nutrition programmes, including the $232 million Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) programme, the country continues to record poor outcomes.
According to him, “there is an obvious disconnect between accountability, resource allocation and successful policy implementation,” which he attributed to the absence of a regulatory framework for the nutrition profession.
The proposed legislation, he said, would establish a public register for nutritionists and nutrition assistants, set educational and training standards, provide for the registration and licensing of practitioners, and create disciplinary mechanisms to investigate and sanction professional misconduct.
He added that the council would collaborate with federal and state health authorities, the National Universities Commission and international partners to promote nutrition education and sustainable food systems.
Okafor also assured lawmakers that the proposed council would be self-funding, similar to other professional regulatory bodies in the country.
He argued that regulating the profession would ensure that qualified nutritionists are effectively deployed in hospitals, primary healthcare centres, correctional facilities and schools, while promoting scientific approaches to nutrition and food systems.
Describing the bill as “a vital tool for public health protection,” the lawmaker urged his colleagues 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 to oversee the regulation, registration, licensing and professional development of nutrition practitioners across the country.
