Nigeria’s House of Representatives, on Wednesday, forced a member, Simon Atigwe representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Enugu State Federal Constituency to withdraw a bill seeking to bar workers in the health sector from embarking on industrial action.
According to the House, the proposal, which failed its second reading at the plenary on Wednesday, was against the provisions of the Constitution.
Several unions in the health sector such as the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have on different occasions downed tools over issues bothering on their welfare and working conditions.
On Wednesday, Atigwe had read out the long title of the bill and moved a motion for its second reading, while Christopher Okwudili seconded the motion. The Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, who presided over the session, had asked the sponsor to lead the debate on the bill.
Another member, Iduma Igariwey, however, raised a point of order to cite Section 34(1)(c) of the Constitution, which prescribes that ‘no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labor.’
