The first vice-president of the Nigerian Medical Association, Benjamin Olowojebutu, says increasing the retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 will address ‘japa’ syndrome.

Mr Olowojebutu said this when he led some members of NMA to pay a courtesy visit to Rep. Wale Ahmed (APC-Lagos) in his office at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Friday to express appreciation for sponsoring the bill.

Mr Olowojebutu called for speedy passage of the bill to increase the retirement age of health workers in the country from 60 to 65 and the maximum pensionable years of service from 35 to 40.

“So one of the things to do is to increase their age so that there are more experiences for those younger doctors to learn from when they retire.

“I can assure you, it will boost the morale of doctors in this country,” he said.

Mr Olowojebutu appealed to the House of Representatives leadership to look at the bill as a comprehensive one that would aid healthcare delivery in the country.

According to him, it will also support the livelihood of medical doctors who have served Nigeria for a long time and their passion for this country.

“A lot of our friends have left the country, but some of us are still very dogged and passionate about staying in the country because we are patriotic.

“We have a lot of passion for the health care of this nation. So we appeal to the leadership of the house to help us expedite this bill,” he said.

Mohammed Mohammed, president of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, said the bill would improve healthcare delivery in the country.

Mr Mohammed urged the leadership of the National Assembly, especially the Reps, to give the bill the urgency it deserved, just like they did for the national budget, as it would touch the lives of the masses from the cradle.

(NAN)