Health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations are currently staging a protest at the Unity Fountain in Abuja over a proposed health sector reform bill before the National Assembly.
The demonstrators voiced strong opposition to the legislation, warning that it could significantly restructure the regulatory framework of Nigeria’s health sector.
Concerns over centralised control
According to the protesters, the bill seeks to place all medical professions under the authority of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
They argue that such a move would undermine existing professional councils and disrupt the balance within the healthcare system.
Health workers insist that each profession already operates under its own regulatory body and caution that the proposed reform could weaken institutional independence.
Fear of professional imbalance
The unions further warned that the legislation could relegate non-physician healthcare workers to a subordinate status.
Some protesters described the proposal as an attempt to make other health professionals “second-class” compared to medical doctors.
They stressed that the bill, if passed, could create structural inequality and affect collaboration across the sector.
Planned escalation to National Assembly
The protesters said they plan to proceed to the National Assembly Complex to formally present their grievances and demand a reconsideration of the bill.
The protest follows earlier announcements by the unions to mobilise healthcare professionals nationwide against the proposed Health Sector Executive Bills 2026.
Participants from across the country are expected to join the demonstration, which began at Unity Fountain in Maitama.
What happens next
Stakeholders say the outcome of the protest could shape ongoing legislative deliberations, as lawmakers face mounting pressure to review the bill.
The development highlights growing tensions within Nigeria’s health sector over regulatory control and professional autonomy.
