A Bill for an Act: Keeping Nigeria’s Trained Medical Personnel within Our Borders

The significant emigration of highly skilled professional doctors and other trained medical personnel seeking better opportunities abroad, poses a major challenge to our country’s development and healthcare system. Factors contributing to brain drain include inadequate infrastructure, limited career prospects, low wages, and a lack of research opportunities. The loss of talented individuals has continued to hamper Nigeria’s progress in various sectors and reduce the country’s capacity to address the people’s critical healthcare needs. Efforts are needed to improve working conditions, provide incentives, and create an enabling environment to retain skilled medical professionals and harness their potential for national growth.
In a press statement on Monday, the Federal Government expressed its disapproval of a bill presently under deliberation by the National Assembly. The bill aims to impose limitations on the migration of Nigerian doctors to countries deemed to offer better opportunities.
Following an extraordinary Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House in Abuja, Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, addressed reporters. He stated that the government considers the bill to be impractical and unfeasible.
In response to the resident doctors’ threat of a five-day warning strike, prompted by concerns over the potential requirement for medical and dental graduates to wait five years before obtaining a practicing license, Senator Chris Ngige emphasized that the bill contradicts existing labor legislation.
According to The PUNCH, Ganiyu Johnson, a House of Representatives member from Lagos State and the sponsor of the bill, had clarified that the intention behind the proposal was to address the significant emigration of medical professionals from Nigeria.
The proposed legislation, known as “A Bill for an Act to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap. M379, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” aims to enforce a mandatory five-year period of practice in Nigeria for all medical or dental practitioners trained in the country. The intention behind the bill is to ensure the availability of quality healthcare services in Nigeria.
In response to this development, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors expressed their opposition by announcing their intention to undertake a five-day warning strike. They vowed to resist any attempt to “oppress” Nigerian medical doctors under the guise of the proposed legislation.
Additionally, they called for an urgent 200 percent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, calculated based on the current gross salaries of doctors. They emphasized the need for the immediate implementation of CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure), the adoption of the Medical Residency Training Act at the state level, and a comprehensive review of hazard allowances by all state governments and private tertiary health institutions involved in any form of residency training. These were among the key demands put forward by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors.
However, Senator Chris Ngige countered these concerns by stating, “No one can claim that doctors will be denied a practicing license for five years. Such a provision would contradict the established laws of the land that govern the progression in the medical profession.”
He further clarified, “The bill currently being considered in the National Assembly does not have the power to prevent anyone from obtaining a full license. This bill is a private member’s bill, and both private and executive bills are handled in the National Assembly.”
Senator Ngige explained, “Executive bills are those that originate from the government and are sent to the National Assembly, typically bearing the endorsement of the Attorney-General of the Federation or the President. However, this particular bill is a private member’s bill.”
He concluded firmly, stating, “I find this proposal unworkable and I have not supported it from the beginning, nor will I ever support it.”
Senator Ngige stated that that the bill seems like an excessive measure to address the issue at hand. And if the aim is to combat brain drain, alternative approaches should be considered.
The Minister expressed his belief that the planned five-day strike is unnecessary, as the government is already actively involved in discussions with the Nigerian Medical Association, the umbrella body representing the interests of NARD (Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors).
Regarding the demand for a 200 percent salary increase, Senator Chris Ngige clarified that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) serves as the overall representative body for all doctors in Nigeria, with several affiliated associations including the resident doctors’ association.
He highlighted that the NMA is currently engaged in discussions with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, and the Ministry of Labour. He noted that the NMA has already accepted a salary increase ranging from 25 to 30 percent for their members.
Senator Ngige expressed confusion over the rationale behind certain members of the NMA demanding a 200 percent salary increase. He mentioned that he has contacted the President of the NMA and urged him to communicate with the concerned members, as the government primarily negotiates remuneration with the NMA.
In addition, Senator Ngige informed that the Council has approved the universal implementation of the Employee Compensation Act 2010, following a memorandum presented by his ministry. He explained that this law, operated by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, will replace the previous Employee Compensation Act (also known as the Workmen Compensation Act).
Senator Ngige further stated that the Council’s approval signifies that the Employee Compensation Act is now applicable universally. This means that not only the private sector, which has already implemented it, but also the public sector (i.e., government at the federal, state, and local levels) should adopt this act to ensure the protection of their workers.
The Act stipulates that workers who sustain injuries, experience accidents, contract diseases, become disabled, or unfortunately pass away during the course of their work should be duly compensated. The compensation extends not only to the affected workers but also to their families, ensuring support even when the worker is no longer present.
However, the Act did not originally include provisions for the education and schooling of the workers’ children up to the age of 21.
This marks a significant milestone for Nigerian workers as the Council’s approval of the Employee Compensation Act signifies a positive step towards ensuring comprehensive worker protection in line with the principles outlined in Convention 102 of the International Labour Organization (ILO). This progress aligns with the ILO’s decent work agenda, specifically emphasizing the protection of workers throughout their employment journey.