Nigerian Dental Therapists Demand Withdrawal of Executive Bill Warning of Dangerous Professional Regression

The NDTA warns that the proposed HB 2706 bill could "annex and kill" the dental therapy profession in Nigeria, calling for its immediate withdrawal.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 7:18 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Channels Television

Legislative Amendments Spark Professional Outcry

The Nigerian Dental Therapists’ Association (NDTA) has issued a stern warning against the Federal Government’s proposed executive bill, HB 2706, describing it as a "dangerous regression" for the healthcare sector. The bill seeks to amend the Dental Therapists Registration Board (DThRBN) Act of 2004. While the government maintains the move is intended to streamline governance and reduce costs, the NDTA argues the legislation is a veiled attempt at "professional capture" that could effectively eliminate the identity of dental therapy in Nigeria.

Concerns Over Professional Qualifications and Leadership

Central to the NDTA’s grievances is the proposed restructuring of the board’s leadership. The new Section 2(1)(a) suggests a part-time chairman but notably fails to specify any professional qualifications for the role. The association expressed alarm that this ambiguity paves the way for political appointees without dental backgrounds to oversee a highly specialized clinical field. Similar concerns were raised regarding the Registrar’s appointment, with the NDTA labeling the lack of professional criteria as a vulnerability that prioritizes political optics over clinical expertise.

Representation Crisis and Professional Autonomy

The association highlighted what it calls a "logic gap" in the bill’s proposed board composition. Despite the government's aim to reduce board sizes, the bill seeks to increase "community interest" representatives to six while leaving only one seat for a practicing dental therapist. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA)—which represents dentists—on the therapists' board has been met with fierce resistance. The NDTA contends that the NDA does not represent their interests and that such inclusion undermines the autonomy of their specific branch of medicine.