The House of Representatives has approved a bill in second reading that would limit the number of medical and dental professionals with Nigerian training who migrate to other countries.
The measure suggests that before receiving full licenses, medical or dental professionals with training in Nigeria would need to practice in the nation for at least five years.
The law was put out in an effort to stop Nigeria’s growing exodus of medical professionals in quest of better prospects abroad.
However, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, a member of the House, rejected the bill on the grounds that requiring a doctor to work in Nigeria for five years after graduation before looking for job abroad amounted to slavery. Despite this resistance, the bill was approved for a second reading by a majority voice vote.