The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has stated that any attempt by the Federal Government to enslave Medical Professionals in the country will be met with resistance.
The NARD, in a communiqué issued at the end of its emergency extended National Officers’ Committee meeting and signed by its President, Dr Emeka Orji; Secretary-General, Dr Kelechi Chikezie; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Umar Musa, described a bill proposed by the National Assembly as modern-day slavery that should be abolished.
According to Punch, the meeting was held digitally on Friday.
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A law prohibiting Nigeria-trained medical and dental practitioners from receiving full licenses until they have worked in the country for at least five years passed second reading in the House of Representatives last Thursday.
Ganiyu Johnson, the bill’s proponent, wants to solve the country’s health workers’ brain drain.
NARD, in its communique, said, “The extended NOC admonishes the Federal House of Representatives that the obnoxious bill as sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson is a clear definition of modern-day slavery and not in keeping with anything civil, and so should be thrown away at this point.
“The house however agreed with him on the palpable dangers of the current menace of brain drain in the health sector and promised to work with the government to reverse the trend when the government was ready to come up with genuine solutions to the problem.
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“The extended NOC reiterates that any attempt by the government or any of her agencies to enslave Nigerian medical doctors under any guise would be strongly and vehemently resisted by the association.”
NARD also encouraged the FG to adhere to the agreements reached by the Federal Ministry of Health’s stakeholders on the execution of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund and to move quickly on its payment.
It went on to say that any attempt to do otherwise will simply lead to a new round of unwelcome problems in the health sector.
It also urged the Federal Ministry of Health and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to evaluate and enhance the membership certificates of postgraduate colleges.
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