Nigerian doctors’ union condemns Saint Lucia deployment deal, issues 21-day ultimatum

Summary

• NMA condemns Saint Lucia doctor deal, calling it “morally unjustifiable” and a threat to national healthcare
• Medical brain drain fears grow as the association warns the move will worsen shortages and increase burnout among local doctors
• 21-day ultimatum issued by the NMA, demanding urgent reforms or risking widespread disruption to healthcare services

Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over a bilateral agreement to send Nigerian doctors and healthcare professionals to Saint Lucia and other Caribbean nations under the Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) programme.

In a statement issued on July 3, 2025, the NMA described the move as “morally unjustifiable” and warned it could accelerate the ongoing brain drain crisis plaguing Nigeria’s healthcare system. It also expressed deep concern about deploying doctors abroad when domestic hospitals are chronically understaffed and underfunded.

According to the association, doctors posted to Saint Lucia under the agreement will earn as much as ₦131.7 million annually, compared to the ₦11.9 million received by most of their counterparts working in Nigeria. This glaring pay disparity, the NMA argues, not only incentivises emigration but also undermines the government’s duty to support its own health workforce.

The association highlighted that Nigerian doctors continue to face systemic neglect, including poor remuneration, unpaid allowances, and hazardous working conditions without adequate risk compensation.

Delays in disbursing the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), inconsistent implementation of the CONMESS salary structure, and the absence of critical reforms like improved hospital governance and a revised retirement age have further demoralised the workforce.

Adding to their frustrations, the NMA denounced a circular released by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on June 27, 2025, which they claim contradicts previously negotiated agreements with the government. They called for its immediate withdrawal and demanded comprehensive reforms to restore confidence in the system.

On July 3, the association issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to respond to their demands or face “major disruptions” to healthcare delivery nationwide. While the NMA expressed its readiness to continue engaging with the government in good faith, it stressed the need for urgent and meaningful action.

“The decision to export doctors while neglecting those at home is a deeply troubling contradiction,” the NMA said. “It prioritises international image over the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians.”

Though supportive of international collaboration in principle, the NMA emphasised that such agreements must not come at the cost of Nigeria’s already struggling healthcare sector. It urged the government to channel its resources into strengthening domestic health infrastructure and improving the welfare of healthcare workers.

The controversy has sparked wide public debate, with posts on social media platform X reflecting frustration and disapproval. Notable voices, including @GuardianNigeria and @nationalnma, echoed the NMA’s concerns, warning that the agreement risks deepening Nigeria’s medical workforce crisis.

As the ultimatum countdown begins, the federal government faces mounting pressure to rethink its strategy and address long-standing issues in the nation’s healthcare system.