By Usman Yahaya Ismail
The Jigawa State Executive Council has approved the transmission of the proposed Pre-Marital Medical Test Bill to the Jigawa State House of Assembly for legislative scrutiny and passage.
The decision was reached during a Council meeting held on April 20, 2026, chaired by Governor Umar A. Namadi.
The Council stated that the bill is designed to strengthen preventive healthcare and address the rising cases of Sickle Cell Disease and infectious diseases in the state.
The proposed legislation would make medical screening a mandatory requirement for intending couples before marriage.
According to the Council, the measure will promote informed marital decisions and help reduce avoidable health complications within families.
The Council noted that early detection remains critical in reducing the burden of hereditary and communicable diseases.
Findings show that several states and health bodies continue to advocate for pre-marital screening as a practical approach to curbing genetic and infectious diseases.
The Council added that the bill, once passed into law, will improve public health outcomes and protect future generations.
The council also approved ₦216.66 million for the implementation of the Free JAMB Support Programme under the Danmodi Student Care Initiative.
The Council explained that the programme will provide free JAMB PINs and pre-examination coaching for eligible students across the state. The initiative specifically targets students from less privileged backgrounds to alleviate the financial burden of examination registration.
According to the Council, the programme will enable more candidates to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and pursue higher education. Industry checks indicate that financial constraints remain a major barrier to tertiary education access for many students in Nigeria.
The Council added that the initiative will expand educational opportunities and support human capital development in the state, assuring the public that the programme will be implemented transparently to ensure that only qualified candidates benefit.