Why Bill To Halt Doctors’ Migration Suffered Setback

Afimag.com –

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declined the bill proposed by the National Assembly to prevent the migration of Nigerian doctors abroad until five years minimum of practice in Nigeria. described as “unworkable”, a

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who disclosed the position of the FG on May 15, 2023, described the bill as unworkable.

According to him, it was a resolution reached at the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja.

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Recall that the resident doctors have threatened to embark on a five-day warning strike over perceived attempts to ground medical and dental graduates nationwide for five years before being granted a practicing licence.

It was gathered that the sponsor of the bill, a member of the House of
Representatives from Lagos State, Ganiyu Johnson, earlier, explained that it will check the transition medical doctors from the country.

The legislation is titled, “A Bill for an Act to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap. M379, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to mandate any Nigeria-trained medical or dental practitioner to practise in Nigeria for a minimum of five years before being granted a full licence by the Council to make quality health services available to Nigeria; and for related matters.”

Reacting, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors announced plans to embark on a five-day warning strike, vowing to resist any guise to “enslave” Nigerian medical doctors.

They demanded an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salaries of doctors, the immediate implementation of CONMESS, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, and review of hazard allowance by all the state governments as well as private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done; among others.

On his part, Chris Ngige said, the bill negates extant Labour laws, adding that doctors will get their practicing licence as usual.

While saying that the Bill in the National Assembly will not stop anybody from getting a full licence, Ngige further described it as a private members’ bill, adding that in the National Assembly, they attend to private members’ Bills and executive Bills.

According to him, Executive bills emanate from the government into the National Assembly with the stamp of the executive.

“It is either sent by the Attorney-General of the Federation or by the President, but usually from the Attorney-General of the Federation. So, it’s not an executive Bill, it’s a private member’s Bill,” he said.