Nigerian health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations staged a protest in Abuja on Thursday, opposing a controversial bill currently before the National Assembly seeking to repeal the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act.
The bill, identified as HB 2695, has drawn sharp criticism from several healthcare professionals who fear it could alter the existing regulatory structure of Nigeria’s health sector.
The protesters gathered at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs to express their dissatisfaction with the proposed legislation.
According to the aggrieved workers, the bill, if passed into law, would place other healthcare professionals under the control of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), a move they described as unacceptable.
The demonstrators, operating under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, maintained that Nigeria’s health sector is currently regulated by different professional bodies, each with its own statutory responsibilities.
However, they argued that the proposed legislation seeks to concentrate regulatory authority solely in the hands of the MDCN.
They further warned that the bill, if allowed to pass, “would subject other medical professionals to the control of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.”
The protesting workers insisted that such a development could undermine the independence of other health professionals and disrupt the collaborative structure necessary for efficient healthcare delivery.
Armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, the protesters continued their demonstration at the Unity Fountain, calling on lawmakers to reconsider the bill and engage wider stakeholders before taking further action.
The development signals growing tension within Nigeria’s healthcare sector, as professionals push back against what they describe as a potential restructuring of regulatory authority that could impact professional autonomy and service delivery nationwide.
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