NMA Slams Tinubu-led Govt Over Doctor Export Deal Amid Healthcare Crisis at Home

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has condemned the Federal Government’s recent agreement to deploy Nigerian doctors and healthcare professionals to Saint Lucia, calling the move “inexcusable” and “morally unjustifiable” amid a deepening crisis in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

On Monday, President Bola Tinubu promised to send skilled professionals, including teachers, doctors, and agriculturists, to Saint Lucia and other Caribbean nations following a newly signed Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) Agreement aimed at deepening South-South cooperation and reconnecting with the African diaspora.

In a press statement released on Thursday, July 3, 2025, and signed by NMA Secretary General Dr. Ben Egbo, the association accused the Tinubu-led administration of prioritising international diplomacy over the welfare of medical personnel at home.

The NMA criticised what it described as a “deeply troubling contradiction,” wherein Nigerian doctors are being sent abroad while the ones remaining face harsh working conditions, withheld salaries, and a collapsing health system.

“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,” the statement read.

The association warned that such a policy, while dressed as regional cooperation, only accelerates the ongoing brain drain that has left Nigeria’s healthcare system on life support.

The NMA detailed a long list of grievances, including: Poor remuneration and irregular salary payments, Chronic delays in the disbursement of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), Failure to implement previously agreed-upon welfare packages, Dangerous working conditions without adequate hazard compensation and Inconsistent application of the CONMESS salary structure.

These issues, the association said, have led to burnout, psychological stress, chronic illness, and even death among medical professionals, with dire consequences for public health outcomes.

“Many of our colleagues have left the country in search of dignity and fair compensation. Those left behind are overworked and underpaid, risking their lives daily,” Dr. Egbo noted.

Just a day before the announcement of the Saint Lucia deal, the NMA had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding urgent action to reverse a controversial circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), fulfil all outstanding agreements, and address long-standing salary distortions.

While expressing support for regional partnerships, the NMA stated that it was both unethical and counterproductive for the Nigerian government to offer doctors better pay abroad—reportedly five times higher than what they earn locally—while refusing to meet basic compensation standards at home.

“It is morally unjustifiable to export healthcare workers to foreign countries and pay them five times as much as they earned while serving in Nigeria,” the NMA said.

The association warned that such actions would only worsen the existing health crisis and further deplete the already fragile medical workforce in Nigeria.