By Fatima Saka
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday adopted the report of its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions which dismissed a petition filed against the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) over the alleged undue withholding of an additional qualifications licence.
The report was presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen, who laid the findings before the Senate during plenary. The petition was filed by Dr. Groovy Ozoani against the MDCN, accusing the regulatory body of denying him a statutory professional licence after obtaining additional qualifications abroad.
Senator Imasuen explained that the committee thoroughly investigated the matter and heard submissions from both the petitioner and officials of the MDCN. He noted that Dr. Ozoani, a foreign-trained medical practitioner who obtained his medical degree in Cuba, sought to be registered and licensed by the MDCN without sitting for the mandatory assessment examination as required by Nigerian law.
“The investigation revealed that the petitioner was seeking registration without fulfilling the statutory requirement of passing the MDCN assessment examination. The council acted within the provisions of the law,” Imasuen said.
The Senate subsequently adopted the committee’s recommendation dismissing the petition and directing Dr. Ozoani to comply with MDCN regulations by writing and passing the assessment examination as a prerequisite for registration to practise medicine in Nigeria.
Presiding over the session, Senate Deputy President, Senator Jibrin Barau stressed that the medical profession demands strict regulatory standards across the world.
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“Medicine is a sensitive profession. No country allows unverified medical practice. Even if you study at any top-ranked university abroad, you must pass the professional assessment of the regulatory body before you can practise. Nigeria cannot be different,” Akpabio said.
He commended Senator Imasuen and members of the committee for what he described as a thorough and fair investigation.
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