President Bola Tinubu has approved a new national policy in curbing health workforce migration.
In a statement on Monday, Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, said the policy is a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health workers’ migration.The minister added that the policy will also encourage the return of professionals to Nigeria through attractive incentives and reintegrate them into the nation’s health system.
“This approach leverages the expertise of our diaspora to bridge gaps within the health sector. Also, the policy champions reciprocal agreements with other nations to ensure that the exchange of health workers benefits Nigeria. These bilateral and multilateral agreements are designed to protect national interests while respecting the rights and aspirations of our healthcare professionals.
We call on recipient countries to implement a 1:1 match — training one worker to replace every publicly trained Nigerian worker they receive,” the statement read.
The minister said the policy recognises the importance of work-life balance and has included provisions for routine health checks, mental well-being support, and reasonable working hours, especially for younger doctors. “These measures aim to create a supportive work environment, reducing burnout and enhancing job satisfaction,” Pate said. “The governance of this policy will be overseen by the National Human Resources for Health Program (#NHRHP) within @Fmohnigeria, in collaboration with state governments. This ensures responsible implementation and alignment with broader sector-wide (#SWAp) health objectives.”
