Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State recently signed the Medical Residency Training 2024 bill into law thus becoming the first state governor in Nigeria to endorse such a beneficial law for resident doctors.
It was an Executive bill sent to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly which provides for funding support for resident doctors to excell in their specific fields.
Governor Diri commended the House of Assembly for the speedy given to the bill , saying that his administration had always prioritised the welfare of its workers and will continue to provide the enabling environment for resident doctors whose profession is threatened by brain drain; he expressed his containment that Bayelsa was the first state with such a law and promised that it will be implemented in it’s entirety.
“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.
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“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 said.
The governor appreciated the medical unions for their urge for what would enhance the status of resident doctors and the society at large.
The Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Monday Obolo-Bubou in his remarks said the legislature recognized the importance of the bill and gave it the acceleration it deserved.
Hon. Obolo-Bubou explained further that the law will build the capacity of resident doctors who will embark on regular training to equip the manpower for better service delivery to patients
Dr Oyinke Godbless, Chairman House Committee on Health told Newsmen 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.
