NMA condemns Tinubu’s plan to send Nigerian doctors abroad, warning it worsens brain drain while local healthcare professionals face neglect and poor pay
The Nigerian Medical Association has issued a strong statement as NMA condemns Tinubu’s plan to send Nigerian doctors and healthcare workers to Saint Lucia, warning that such a move undermines the country’s fragile health system.
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On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu signed a bilateral agreement to deploy Nigerian professionals, including medical personnel, to the Caribbean nation.
However, the NMA described the agreement as a misplaced priority at a time when doctors at home face low pay, withheld allowances and dangerous working conditions.
In a statement released on Thursday, NMA Secretary-General Ben Egbo expressed concern over the timing of the deal.
“It is morally unjustifiable to export our doctors abroad and pay them far more than what they earn here,” he said.
He criticised the government for failing to address key issues affecting doctors in Nigeria, including unpaid Medical Residency Training Funds, inadequate risk allowances, and the poor implementation of existing welfare agreements.
Egbo added that overworked medical staff are suffering from burnout, stress, and deteriorating health, all while trying to serve an overstretched population.
The NMA condemnation is not out of opposition to international partnerships, but because it believes the move encourages brain drain and abandons domestic healthcare needs.
According to Egbo, thousands of Nigerian-trained doctors are already leaving the country, and further facilitating their migration will only increase mortality and worsen healthcare delivery nationwide.
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“We must address the rot within before we try to impress the world,” he said.
