Exporting Doctors, importing crisis: NMA slams Tinubu over St. Lucia deal

Medical association warns of worsening brain drain as government sends doctors abroad while neglecting those at home.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has criticised the Federal Government’s agreement to deploy Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals to Saint Lucia, noting the move would encourage brain drain with its attendant health consequences.

Dr Ben Egbo, NMA Secretary General, decried the agreement with the Caribbean country, saying it comes at a time when Nigerian doctors are grappling with systemic neglect, poor salaries and withheld allowances.

Egbo further said it coincides with the release of a controversial salary circular that undermines the welfare and professional dignity of doctors.

“We consider this move a deeply troubling contradiction and an attempt to bolster Nigeria’s international image while failing to meet the basic obligations owed to doctors at home who are toiling hard to serve Nigeria.

“We remind the federal government that Nigerian doctors have been suffering while working and serving Nigerians with many doctors leaving the country due to poor remuneration; chronic delays in payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).”

Others are non-implementation of previously negotiated welfare packages and agreements, hazardous working conditions without commensurate risk allowances, lack of universal implementation of the CONMESS salary structure for many of the doctors.

“These challenges have overburdened the doctors left behind, leading to burnout, stress, chronic diseases, and even death, which invariably increases morbidity and mortality among Nigerians.”

Egbo affirmed NMA’s support for  regional cooperation and international engagement, however, noted it is morally unjustifiable to export healthcare workers to foreign countries and pay them five times higher than they earned while serving in Nigeria.

He disclosed that the St. Lucia Government paid N131.7 million per annum to its highest-paid doctors, while the Nigerian government would pay N40.8 million per annum to its doctors that would serve in St. Lucia.

Egbo lamented that the Nigerian government pays N11.9 million per annum to doctors serving in Nigeria.

“Exporting doctors while undermining their welfare at home is inexcusable,” Egbo said.

Nigeria and Saint Lucia signed a Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) agreement to deploy skilled Nigerian professionals to the Caribbean nation, among which are medical doctors and other health professionals.

The agreement signed in Castries by Yusuf Yakub, Director-General of Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps, and Janelle Modeste-Stephen, Saint Lucia’s acting Permanent Secretary was part of bilateral agreement forged during President Bola Tinubu’s two-nation tour of the Caribbean and South America to deepen South-South cooperation.

PRESS RELEASE

NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (NMA)
National Headquarters

PRESS RELEASE

July 3, 2025

“Exporting Doctors While Undermining Their Welfare at Home Is Inexcusable”

— NMA Reacts to President Tinubu’s Agreement to Send Nigerian Doctors to Saint Lucia

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) expresses deep concern and dismay at the Federal Government’s recent agreement to deploy Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals to Saint Lucia. This announcement comes at a time when Nigerian doctors are grappling with systemic neglect, poor salaries, withheld allowances, and the release of a controversial salary circular that undermines their welfare and professional dignity.

We consider this move a deeply troubling contradiction and an attempt to bolster Nigeria’s international image while failing to meet the basic obligations owed to doctors at home who are toiling hard to serve Nigeria.

We remind the Federal Government that Nigerian doctors have been suffering working and serving Nigerians with many doctors leaving the country due to Poor remuneration; Chronic delays in payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF); non-implementation of previously negotiated welfare packages and agreements; Hazardous working conditions without commensurate risk allowances; Lack of universal implementation of the CONMESS salary structure for many of the doctors. These challenges have overburdened the doctors left behind, leading to burnout, stress, chronic diseases, and even death, which invariably increases morbidity and mortality among Nigerians.

Only yesterday, on July 2, 2025, the NMA issued a press release demanding that the government address its grievances within a 21-day window. The NMA requests that the government withdraw and replace the misleading NSIWC circular; honour all outstanding collective bargain agreements; resolve outstanding allowances and correct distortions in the pay structure; and protect the professional autonomy and dignity of Nigerian doctors.

While the NMA supports regional cooperation and international engagement, it is morally unjustifiable to export healthcare workers to foreign countries and pay them five times higher than they earned while serving in Nigeria. Thus, encouraging the brain drain with its attendant health consequences. Below is a table comparing the salaries paid to the highest-paid doctors serving in St. Lucia and Nigeria.

COMPARISON OF SALARIES PAID TO THE HIGHEST PAID DOCTORS SERVING IN ST LUCIA AND NIGERIA (PER ANNUM IN NAIRA N)