The bill seeking to mandate medical and dental practitioners to practice for five years before relocating abroad has been criticized by Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, chairman of the senate committee on health.
Oloriegbe argued that the bill violates the right to freedom of movement enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended).
The bill, which seeks to address the brain drain in the Nigerian health sector, was sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Lagos and has passed second reading at the house of representatives.
The proposed legislation has elicited varied reactions, with the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA) and Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) opposing it.
Oloriegbe, in a statement issued on Twitter, argued that the bill is not enough to address brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector and that factors responsible for it are multifaceted.
He added that the sponsor of the bill does not understand the facts related to granting a practicing license in the health sector and that the proposed legislation violates constitutional rights.