FG not in support of bill denying Nigerian doctors license until they work for five years

The Federal Government yesterday said it is not in support of the National Assembly bill proposing to deny Nigeria-trained medical or dental practitioners from being granted full licenses until they have worked for a minimum of five years in the country.

On April 7, the bill scaled through the second reading in the House of Representatives. According to the sponsor, Ganiyu Johnson, the piece of legislation is to address the brain drain in the Nigerian health sector. However, briefing State House Correspondents in Abuja after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige asserted that the bill in the National Assembly cannot stop anyone from getting a full license. The Minister who maintained that there are other ways to check brain drain in the country, described the bill as not workable.