On April 6, 2023, Nigeria’s House of Representatives announced that a bill to mandate fresh Nigerian-trained doctors to work for five years in the country had passed the second reading. The bill aims to stop the mass exodus of doctors from Nigeria. If the bill becomes law, this category of doctors will only get full licenses from the profession’s regulatory body after working for five years.
The seemingly nationalistic bill grossly violates sections 34 and 35 of the Nigerian constitution, guaranteeing Nigerians’ rights to dignity and personal liberty, respectively. Also, just like the ill-thought naira redesign policy, this proposed law portends enormous danger to Nigerians. It could catalyze the brain drain in the country’s health sector, negatively affecting healthcare access by over 200 million Nigerians.
Nigerian lawmakers must dump the enslaving bill. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) should support Nigerian health workers opposing the bill. To lawfully and effectively address the mass exodus of health workers from Nigeria, the government must be…..
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