Nigerian doctors want to stay but can’t, says NMA

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has revealed that many Nigerian doctors want to stay in the country, but are being forced to leave due to poor working conditions, insecurity, low pay, and limited career opportunities. NMA President Dr Afekhide Omoti made this statement in Abuja following the association's National Executive Council meeting.

Omoti emphasized that the problem has become so severe that some medical students are already planning to leave Nigeria even before completing their training. He added, "Every doctor wants to remain in this country. I can assure you hardly any doctor ordinarily would want to leave. So we want to stay, but for many people, they just cannot do it anymore, so they have no choice."

According to Omoti, young doctors often begin preparing for foreign exams while still in internship because they do not see a promising future in Nigeria. The NMA president noted that over 50% of Nigerian doctors have already left the country, calling it a significant loss for the government, which spends considerable resources on their training. He said, "The government spends so much money to train an average doctor and these doctors leave for free. So who loses? The government loses. The Nigerian people lose."

In a bid to retain doctors, the NMA has proposed a minimum retention package for them, stating that they are not asking the government to match the salaries they earn abroad. Omoti stressed that the association is simply seeking conditions that would make doctors content to remain in the country. The organization also urged the Federal Government to implement the 65-year retirement age for clinical health workers urgently, arguing that retaining experienced clinicians is crucial due to the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals.

Additionally, the NMA called on the government to finalize and implement the outstanding collective bargaining agreement with health workers, stating that its financial implications should be included in the 2027 budget. Omoti emphasized that improved welfare and working conditions are vital in reversing the migration of health professionals, stating, "We cannot retain healthcare professionals in an environment where their lives are threatened.

We cannot effectively address brain drain without improving the welfare and working conditions of healthcare workers."