Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs Maria Edeko, has said that there is no problem if skilled workers decide to migrate and seek greener pastures in foreign countries.
Edeko, representing the industrious people of Esan North-East constituency 11on the floor of the house, made the remark when the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, (UBTH) paid her a courtesy visit in Benin.
She also used the opportunity to call on Nigerian students to be wary of the student loan being offered so as not to entrap themselves.
Speaking on the proposed bill to ban medical doctors from seeking greener pastures abroad, Edeko noted that earnings from diaspora would be good for the growth of the nation’s economy.
“I was very worried the other time they were proposing a law to restrain doctors from going abroad and I am wondering which country does that.
“You people need to fight for your survival because is either our leaders have the wrong exposure or they are actually selfish,” she said.
According to her: a country must be known for something. What we can do as a nation is to treat the children well and properly equip and strengthen our institutions to function optimally.
“What we should do is to establish different schools of nursing, medical schools and other skill acquisition centers that are well funded with best resource persons to teach our children.
“Strengthen our institutions and treat our doctors and nurses well and after which, those that will stay back to work in Nigeria will stay while those that want to leave can leave.
“They would be highly priced abroad and they would bring back foreign earnings from diaspora which to me will be good for the growth of our economy.
“Nigeria will be known for exporting qualified manpower, medical doctors, nurses and others, we have the population.
“All we have done over the years from when we were agrarian country to now that we have discovered oil is to be exporting raw materials out. They could not refine cocoa, groundnuts and crude oil.
“Now that we have skilled children that want to go out for greener pastures, somebody is complaining and screaming don’t go, that is not acceptable,” Edeko added.
The deputy Speaker further stated that, it was wrong to stop parents from sending their children abroad to work after they had spent a lot of money to train them.
She said “Parents cannot struggle to train their children and you tell them that they do not have the right to leave the shores of this country,”.
On his part, the chairman, House Committee on Health, Dr Richard Osaro said that the state was working on over 500 primary health centres and the plan was to ensure that at least 250 of the health centres were working well.
Osaro, representing Oredo west in the House, went further to say that if the health centres were functioning well, they would be able to take care of the health need of the people, provide jobs and improve the economy of the state.
Also speaking, the member representing Igueben constituency, Mr Eugene Inegbebor urged the doctors to give their best to the country.
He stressed the need for doctors to make personal sacrifices for the country to make the country a better place.
Earlier, the president, National Association of Resident Doctors, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Dr David Orhewere said the visit was to inform the deputy speaker of the 46th anniversary of the association in the state.
He equally listed various activities lined up for the anniversary to include awards and free medical outreach to be extended to the constituency of the deputy speaker in Uromi among others you are my best man up to