Health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations on Thursday, March 26, 2026, staged a protest in Abuja against a proposed health sector regulatory bill before the National Assembly, warning that the legislation could disrupt the existing framework governing medical practice in Nigeria.
The demonstrators, who gathered at the Unity Fountain, expressed strong opposition to provisions in the bill which they said seek to bring all health and allied professions under the supervision of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
They argued that such a move would override the statutory roles of other established regulatory bodies across the sector, noting that professions such as nursing, pharmacy and medical laboratory science are already governed by independent councils backed by law.
READ ALSO:Â Osun Labour Suspends Planned Bank Picketing Protest
According to the protesters, the proposed arrangement risks creating an imbalance within the healthcare system by concentrating regulatory authority in a single body, a development they said could relegate other professionals to a subordinate position beneath medical doctors.
They further warned that the bill, if passed in its current form, could undermine collaboration among healthcare practitioners and weaken the efficiency of service delivery nationwide.
The protest comes amid ongoing legislative efforts to reform Nigeria’s health sector through multiple bills aimed at restructuring governance and improving standards across institutions.
Leaders of the protesting groups said they would proceed to the National Assembly complex to formally present their position to lawmakers, urging a review of the bill to protect the autonomy of all health professions.
The legislation remains under consideration by federal lawmakers.