Ngige discusses brain drain and entitlement syndrome in Nigeria

Senator Chris Ngige

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has expressed his concern about the high level of entitlement syndrome in Nigeria. He made the statement on Monday during an appearance on Arise Television's Morning Show program. Ngige's comments came in response to the threat by healthcare workers to go on strike following a proposed bill in the National Assembly aimed at curbing brain drain in the health sector.

The House of Representatives recently proposed a bill to prevent Nigerian-trained medical or dental practitioners from being granted full licences until they have worked in the country for at least five years. The bill, sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson, aims to address the imminent threat of brain drain in Nigeria's health sector. However, the proposed legislation has been met with strong opposition from healthcare practitioners.

Speaking on the issue, Ngige highlighted the need for Nigerian healthcare practitioners to pay for their training, just like their counterparts in other countries. He stated that many medical students in other countries borrow money to finance their education, which they pay back after graduation. In contrast, Nigerian medical students receive free training and are not required to pay for their education.

Ngige argued that the high sense of entitlement among healthcare practitioners in Nigeria is one of the reasons why many of them choose to leave the country. He pointed out that medical students in other countries are more likely to stay in their home countries after graduation because they have to repay their loans. In contrast, many Nigerian medical practitioners leave the country soon after completing their training.

The minister called on the education ministry and universities to explore ways to make medical training in Nigeria more financially sustainable. He noted that medical students in Nigeria pay between N48,000 and N50,000 per session for their training, while their counterparts in the US and UK pay up to $100,000 and £78,000 respectively. Ngige suggested that Nigerian medical students should be required to pay for their training, just like their counterparts in other countries.

Ngige also criticized the healthcare workers' decision to go on strike over the proposed bill. He described the move as "absurd" and called on them to reconsider their decision. He argued that the bill was not an executive bill and had been proposed by a member of the National Assembly, not the government. He also criticized the healthcare workers for making the withdrawal of the bill one of their conditions for calling off the strike. 

Ngige's comments highlight the need for a more sustainable healthcare system in Nigeria. The government should work with healthcare practitioners to develop policies that encourage them to stay in the country after completing their training. At the same time, healthcare practitioners should be willing to pay for their training to ensure that the system remains financially viable. By working together, the government and healthcare practitioners can create a sustainable healthcare system that benefits everyone in the country.