The House of Representatives approved in second reading a bill that seeks to retain healthcare workers in their roles for a longer period amid the ongoing brain drain challenges facing the healthcare sector in the industry.
Sponsored by Wale Hammed (APC, Lagos), the bill proposes to increase the retirement age of health professionals from 60 to 65 years and extend the maximum years of service from 35 to 40, depending on which milestone is reached first .
The second reading was escalated on Thursday after a debate on its general principles.
Leading the debate on the bill, Hammed said the healthcare sector is grappling with a mass migration of workers and the retirement of experienced staff.
He noted that while the government cannot stop workers from moving abroad, it can retain experienced hands.
“What we call the 'japa syndrome' affects the health sector the most. Healthcare staff and staff are becoming exhausted. The second factor is retirement through public sector rules.
“We cannot stop 'japa' because of fundamental human rights. This bill seeks to extend the years of service of health personnel from 60 to 65 years, and from 35 to 40 years, whichever comes first,” he said.
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Mark Essiet (PDP, Akwa Ibom) opposed the bill, arguing that thousands of unemployed healthcare workers need employment and that extending the tenure of those in service could deny them the opportunity to work.
He cited the example of a recent job advertisement from a Federal Medical Center (FMC), where one million applicants applied for only 100 available positions.
“I want to oppose the idea and the reasons given for it. Two weeks ago an ad appeared from a federal medical center here looking for healthcare workers. They needed about 100 workers, but more than a million Nigerians showed up.
“We have thousands of qualified healthcare personnel wandering the streets looking for employment. If we increase the retirement age, others will lose the opportunity to advance,” said lawmaker Akwa Ibom.
Mr Essiet's claim was refuted by Mohammed Anka (PDP, Zamfara) who argued that skilled workers are different from unskilled workers.
He added that many tertiary hospitals have vacancies and private hospitals are looking for retired medical consultants.
“I am making this contribution based on experience. I am a health economist and have worked in the Ministry of Health. I urge my colleagues to distinguish between skilled and unskilled labor.
“Today the judges' mandate has been extended. If you go to the FMCs, there are many vacancies for consultants. They had to retain those who had retired. Those who retire now expect employment from outside agencies because they know their worth. As soon as a consultant retires, he or she is likely to receive new job offers,” he said.
The bill passed despite opposition from some members, as did the “yeses” when it was put to a vote by Vice President Ben Kalu, who chaired it.
It was later referred to the House Health Care Services Committee.
japa syndrome
Data has shown that more than 5,000 Nigerian doctors emigrated to the United Kingdom between 2015 and 2022.
According to data documented by the Development Research and Projects Center (dRPC), 233 Nigerian doctors moved to the United Kingdom in 2015; the number increased to 279 in 2016 and in 2017 it rose to 475, in 2018. The figure rose to 852, in 2019 and jumped to 1,347. The number decreased slightly to 833 in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but increased to 932 in 2021.
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In July 2023, the President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Emeka Orji, revealed that the association is left with only a few, over 9,000 doctors, due to the brain drain crisis in the health system. .
The continuous emigration of health professionals has led to a shortage of qualified health workers in the country, which has negatively affected the quality of health services provided to citizens.