Nigeria moves to cap locum doctors’ work at 48 hours weekly

Nigerian doctors and temporary healthcare workers will be limited to a maximum of 48 hours of work per week, including weekends, under a proposed national policy. The policy, developed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, also restricts continuous duty to 24 hours and includes mandatory rest periods. Temporary workers will face restrictions on call duties, with no more than two per week and one per month, and any excess hours must be compensated or compensated with time off.

The proposed framework aims to create a fairer and less exploitative framework for temporary healthcare personnel, regulating their recruitment, payment, scheduling, welfare, and eligibility for permanent appointment. The policy also seeks to change the recruitment and retention process for locum workers, with initial contracts not exceeding six months and eligibility for permanent appointment after 12 months if continuously engaged.

Institutions would need to provide orientation, safe working environments, adequate call rooms, and refreshments for locum personnel. The concerns over excessive workloads and staffing shortages in Nigeria's healthcare system have been exacerbated by a shortage of medical personnel and the migration of Nigerian doctors abroad, putting pressure on those who remain in the country's hospitals.