The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill that seeks to prevent Nigerian-trained medical or dental practitioners from being granted full licences until they have worked for a minimum of five years in the country.

The bill, sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson, seeks to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act.

It was debated and scaled second reading on Thursday.

Leading the debate on the bill, Johnson said to the House that it was only fair for medical practitioners, who enjoyed taxpayer subsidies on their training, to “give back to the society”.

The bill was opposed by Uzoma Abonta from Abia State, who argued that “such a bill will be like enslavement.”

Despite the argument by Abonta, the bill scaled second reading and referred to committee on health services.