Health Workers Protest In Abuja Against Regulatory Bill -

The ongoing bill at the national assembly to repeal the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, also known as HB 2695, has faced serious opposition from health workers, who staged a protest in Abuja on Thursday.

The protesters, under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, are against the bill, claiming that if allowed to pass, it would subject other medical professionals to the control of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

Armed with placards, they sang solidarity songs in front of the Unity Fountain in Abuja.

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Nigeria’s health sector is regulated by various professional bodies.

At the centre of the dispute is a provision that, according to the unions, seeks to centralise regulatory authority by placing all healthcare professions under the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

The demonstrators argued that such a move would undermine the autonomy of existing professional councils and tilt the sector in favour of medical doctors at the expense of other healthcare professionals.

“This is not reform; it is domination,” a protest leader said, reflecting widespread concerns among participants who fear the bill could relegate non-physician health workers to subordinate roles within the system.

But the aggrieved workers argued that the new bill, which seeks to give sole regulatory powers to the MDCN, would make other health care professionals subject to the control of medical doctors.

Amid chants and placards, the protesters vowed to escalate their action by marching to the National Assembly Complex to formally present their grievances and demand an immediate review of the bill.

The protest follows an earlier notice issued by the unions calling for nationwide mobilisation against the proposed legislation.

Stakeholders say the unfolding standoff could have far-reaching implications for healthcare governance in Nigeria, particularly in areas of professional autonomy, workforce harmony, and the quality of patient care.