Why National Assembly Must Step-down Proposed Health Sector Executive Bills – Labour

Health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have called on the National Assembly to step down the proposed 2026 Health Sector Executive Bills, warning that the legislation could destabilise Nigeria’s healthcare system if passed in its current form.

The unions argued that the proposed amendments to 24 health-related laws undermine the multi-disciplinary nature of healthcare delivery by seeking to subsume other professional regulatory bodies under the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

They maintained that such a move runs contrary to global best practices, where different healthcare professions are independently regulated but work collaboratively.

Speaking in Abuja, JOHESU’s acting chairman, Comrade John Adeolu Alli, said the bill threatens the autonomy of healthcare professions and risks weakening professional standards.

He stressed that effective healthcare delivery depends on the synergy of various professional groups, each governed by its own regulatory framework.

The unions further said that the bills were introduced without adequate consultation with key stakeholders in the sector.

They warned that attempts to centralise regulatory control could encourage quackery, erode accountability, and compromise patient safety.

“We are here this morning to make our grievances known to Nigerians and the federal government on the ongoing Healthcare Amendment Bill 2026.

The healthcare sector is multidisciplinary, and each professional group must be allowed to regulate its practice in line with international best practices, ” Alli said.

“For us, the 2026 Healthcare Amendment Bill is unacceptable. We will reject it and continue to mobilise to ensure Nigerians understand our position.

They are not scrapped but subsumed under the Medical and Dental Council, and that is the problem we are determined to resist with all our energy.”

JOHESU/AHPA also raised concerns over provisions touching on administration and remuneration, insisting that professional bodies must be involved in shaping laws that govern their practice.

The national secretary of JOHESU, Martin Khambi Poli, said the proposed legislation reflects what he described as a long-standing attempt by medical practitioners to dominate the sector.

He cited past legal disputes in which courts affirmed the autonomy of other professional councils, cautioning lawmakers against legislating on matters still subject to judicial consideration.

The unions urged lawmakers to prioritise national interest and preserve the integrity of healthcare delivery by halting the bills and engaging all stakeholders in a transparent review process.