The UK's ''Shortage of Occupation Scheme'': Advanced Stage of Neo-Colonialism on the Health System of Less Developed Countries: The Case of Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: As of May 2023, there is a chance that every day, about 50 Nigerians are convinced to get ready to move into the British healthcare system to fill the gap created by the demanding and expensive labour force of other European countries during the Brexit referendum of 2016. It is evidential that the exodus of this group of persons leaves a big gap in the healthcare sector of Nigeria and other countries with similar impact. To make things visible, this article will be elaborating on the neo-colonial approach taken by the British state to overcome the deficit in the labour force created after Brexit and how this hugely affects the countries providing the labour force, with our focus on Nigeria. The key terms to explored in this article are Neo-colonialism, Brexit and labour force. The article explains how the involvement of the British state in the Brexit referendum created a lacune in the job market and British state through neo-colonialism is using the workforce of the less developed countries to fill the gaps and rendering these countries vulnerable. Methodology: In order to ascertain the role of the British state in the collapse of the Nigerian healthcare system, a mixed method of both qualitative and quantitative information is collected from primary and secondary sources via current events, government policies, and existing academic publications as well as a visible and existing facts in the society. This is possible from the fact that the author is African from Cameroon, a neighbouring country to Nigeria where similar impacts of a destroyed healthcare system is felt. This is also facilitated by the fact that the author who is a foreign registered solicitor and a healthcare worker (healthcare assistant) in the UK is able to gather data through phone from some desirous Nigerians aiming towards migrating to the UK and also from those who have migrated through the shortage of occupation scheme from Nigeria and analysing same for the purpose of coming out with the outcome of this research. Findings: The article came out with its' findings that the neo-colonial control of the British state on less developed countries especially in the health sector, weakens and impoverishes these countries and give room for the countries to continue in a state of underdevelopment. That this is done through brain drain, brainwashing and other forms of exploitation. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Using Marxism to explain the concept of neo-colonialism in this publication further explores the concept and related concepts and would serve as an enhancement to the career of a legal practitioners and activists who practice in this fields. It would serve as an eye opener to the society which may not have seen this approach of Neo-colonialism as harmful. The research will also serve as a tool to Immigration Organizations, healthcare providers, Human Rights campaigners, and policy makers of Nigeria in the fight and restructuring instruments that are negatively affecting the lives of citizens and other vulnerable group of persons. Finally, the research may have a transferable impact, to countries with similar experiences.