The Nigeria National assembly is considering a bill to mandate doctors to spend 5years in the country before leaving the country.
The bill, if passed will prevent Nigeria-trained medical or dental practitioners from being granted full licences until they have worked for a minimum of five years in the country.
The bill passed the second reading at the House of Representatives on Thursday, NewsSpecng learnt.
The bill was sponsored by Hon. Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, it is titled ‘the Bill for an Act to Amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2004’.
Johnson said it was only fair for medical practitioners, who enjoyed taxpayer’s subsidies on their training, to “give back to the society” by working for a minimum number of years in Nigeria before exporting their skills abroad.
The bill however received mixed reactions from both fellow lawmakers and the public.
Uzoma Nkem-Abonta said tying a doctor down for five years in Nigeria before seeking employment outside is akin to enslavement.
On social media, so many have kicked against the bill saying no one should be stopped from seeking greener pastures especially when the government can’t provide what is needed for the medical practioners.
