Outrage As Tinubu Approves Policy To Retain Health Workforce In Nigeria 

Fury is flowing on social media after President Bola Tinubu approved the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s health human resources.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, had disclosed the development on his X handle on Monday.

Pate said the policy is more than just a response to the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals but a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health worker migration.

Pate said, “This afternoon, HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR @officialABAT, in-Council, approved a landmark policy set to transform healthcare human resource management in Nigeria.

“The National Policy on Health Workforce Migration addresses the critical challenges facing Nigeria’s health human resources. As the AU Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, Mr President’s commitment to a resilient and robust healthcare system is powerfully reflected in this forward-looking policy.

“This policy is more than just a response to the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals; it’s a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health worker migration. It envisions a thriving workforce that is well-supported, adequately rewarded, and optimally utilised to meet the healthcare needs of all Nigerians.”

Many Nigerian healthcare workers leave the country for greener pastures, leaving their colleagues to contend with additional workload and extended call hours.

The push factors, according to them, are inadequate equipment, worsening insecurity, poor working conditions, and poor remuneration.

The minister noted that central to this vision is the Nigeria Human Health Resource Programme, which sets a framework for regular reviews of working conditions, ensuring that health workers, especially in rural and underserved areas, receive the recognition and rewards they deserve.

“By fostering an environment conducive to professional growth and stability, the policy aims to retain top talent within Nigeria.”

The development has since erupted fury on social media. See some reactions gathered by GWG.ng below:

Racoon(m) said: “Hehehe! Remember you are always going abroad to seek healthcare. You better ban yourself, Governors, Ministers, NASS members from foreign medical tourism.”

 Akwamkpuruamu said: “Child’s play. Very unimplementable and dead on arrival. Until our politicians stop travelling abroad for common headache then nobody will take them serious.

 ariesbull said: “Pay them well and they will stay.”

noblefrank31(m) said: “If good working conditions can be put in place for them here in Nigeria, they won’t really be looking for greener pastures elsewhere. We need to invest heavily into the healthcare sector to pin down our best brains and attract medical tourism to the country too.”

Remman(m) opined: “Still won’t work on those who actually want to go.”

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