Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, has advised Nigerians to prioritise loving their country over migrating abroad in search of better opportunities.
Mr Akpabio gave the advice during Tuesday’s plenary session, while commenting on a motion to address the “japa” syndrome.
He stated that members of the National Assembly chose to remain in the country because they value love for Nigeria above all else.
“And as of today, the country is losing its expertise. It would have been preferable if they had acquired the necessary skills and returned to Nigeria. However, I believe that the terms of service are also responsible.
“I believe, however, that people should prioritize their love for their country over financial gain. That is why many of us prefer to stay here. So I commend you on this,” he said.
Mr Akpabio said the increasing migration of Nigerians abroad has affected the country’s health and education sector in many ways.
“Even as we speak, we can see some people traveling outside in various disguises. So brain drain is a major issue, not just in the educational sector, but also in the health sector. This has a significant impact on us.
“The greatest professionals in medicine in the United States of America; according to what I have read, we have nearly 22,000 Nigerian health workers in the United States. And they are doing exceptionally well. I have seen that in various reports.”
The Senate President stated that due to the ‘Japa’ syndrome, many higher education institutions lack up to 50% staff strength, leaving students to bear the consequences.
“As you mentioned, it is a two-faced thing. It has advantages as well as disadvantages. However, the disadvantages in the educational sector are numerous, as some departments lack even 50% staff strength. So, what exactly are you teaching our children? “It is like a computer: garbage in, garbage out,” he explained.
Mr Akpabio stated that the National Assembly would enact legislation to improve the lives of teachers, lecturers, and students.
“So we will do our best to improve the lives of teachers, professors, and university administrators so that it will encourage people to save and pass on knowledge to future generations,” he said.
