Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly Mrs Maria Edeko has discribed as selfish, the proposed bill seeking to ban medical doctors from migrating abroad and seek greener pastures.
The deputy speaker who added that nothing wrong in skilled workers migration, pointed out that earnings from diaspora would be good for the growth of the nation’s economy.
Edeko who represents Esan North-East constituency 11 at the State Assembly stated this at the weekend when the Association of Resident Doctors University of Benin Teaching Hospital, (UBTH) paid her a courtesy visit.
The deputy speaker spoke against the backdrop of plans by the House of Representatives to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act- thereby stopping the migration of Nigerian-trained medical practitioners.
Edeko said: “I was very worried the other time they were proposing a law to restrain doctors from going abroad and I am wondering which country does that.
“You people need to fight for your survival because it is either our leaders have the wrong exposure or they are actually selfish”.
Continuing, Edeko said: “what we should do is to establish different schools of nursing, medical schools and other skill acquisition centers that are well funded with best resource persons to teach our children.
“Strengthen our institutions and treat our doctors and nurses well and after which, those that will stay back to work in Nigeria will stay while those that want to leave can leave.
“They would be highly priced abroad and they would bring back foreign earnings from diaspora which to me will be good for the growth of our economy,” she stated.
Earlier, the president, National Association of Resident Doctors, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Dr David Orhewere said the visit was to inform the deputy speaker of the 46th anniversary of the association in the state.
