Governor Diri Signs Medical Residency Training Bill into Law

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, yesterday signed the Medical Residency Training Law 2024, making it the first state in Nigeria with such beneficial law for resident doctors.

The executive bill sent to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly provides for funding support for resident doctors to specialise in specific fields.

The governor commended the House of Assembly for giving the bill accelerated hearing, considering its importance.

He said his administration had always prioritised the welfare of its workers and will continue to provide the environment for resident doctors whose profession is threatened by brain drain.

The Bayelsa helmsman, who expressed delight that Bayelsa was the first state with such a law, promised that every aspect of the new legislation will be implemented.

He said: “I know this is one area that our unionists have been very interested in. Every meeting they have had with me, this issue was tabled and I promised to do something about it.

“I am happy that this went as an executive bill to the state assembly and the assembly expeditiously attended to it, knowing its importance.

“This government prioritises the welfare of our workers. If our workers in the medical profession see this law as something that must be attended to and we agreed with them for the benefit of the larger society, today we have put pen to paper and it is now a law.”

He appreciated the medical unions for demanding for what would enhance the status of resident doctors and the whole of society.

In his remarks, the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Monday Obolo-Bubou, said the legislature saw the importance of the bill as a legislation that will boost the performance of health workers in the state and gave it speedy passage.

He explained that the law will build the capacity of resident doctors that embark on regular training to equip the manpower for better service delivery to patients.

Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Dr. Oyinke Godbless, also told Government House correspondents that by the law, more surgeons, anaesthetists and specialist doctors would emerge as a result of the funding the state government would channel into the medical sector.