Health workers under the aegies of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations protested in Abuja on Thursday against a proposed health sector regulatory bill currently before the National Assembly.

The demonstrators who converged on the Unity Fountain in the Federal Capital Territory, marched through the city centre, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs as they move towards the National Assembly to present a petition outlining their objections and proposed amendments.

The protesters are protesting against a bill, which, if passed, would place all medical and allied health professions under the regulatory authority of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

They noted that the bill would undermine the autonomy of existing professional regulatory bodies for nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, and other health practitioners.

“Each health profession already has established regulatory frameworks that safeguard standards and professional practice. The bill, as drafted, seeks to make other health professionals second-class to medical doctors,” one of the union leaders spoke to journalists.

They emphasised that their protest was not against regulation, but the centralisation of authority that could diminish the roles and recognition of allied health professionals.

The union leaders said they would continue mobilising workers and engaging with lawmakers to ensure that their concerns were incorporated into the final version of the bill.

Over the years, there have been protests by health workers across Nigeria over professional equity, regulatory oversight and academic career recognition issues.