*The Nigerian Medical Association criticises the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s deployment of doctors to Saint Lucia, and other Caribbean countries, lamenting the healthcare workers at home are ‘struggling with poor remuneration, unpaid allowances, hazardous working conditions, and widespread burnout’

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has criticised the Federal Government鈥檚 decision to deploy Nigerian doctors to Saint Lucia, and other Caribbean countries under a new Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) agreement.

绿帽献妻 reports the NMA earlier Wednesday, July 2, 2025, had issued a separate 21-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Government to address its demands, including the withdrawal of a controversial circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), resolution of outstanding allowances, and respect for the professional autonomy of Nigerian doctors.

Dr. Benjamin Sichey Egbo, Secretary-General of NMA, in a statement Thursday, July 3 also described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s deployment of healthcare professionals to the Caribbean economies as 鈥渋nexcusable鈥�, given the 鈥渄eteriorating鈥� working conditions and neglect of medical professionals at home.

The statement noted: 鈥淓xporting doctors while undermining their welfare at home is inexcusable.鈥�

The Association also expressed 鈥渄eep concern and dismay鈥� over the government鈥檚 decision in this regard.

The NMA contended that the Federal Government’s move contradicted the reality faced by several Nigerian doctors practising at home.

According to NMA, doctors and other healthcare workers in the West African country are 鈥渟truggling with poor remuneration, unpaid allowances, hazardous working conditions, and widespread burnout.鈥�

Dr. Egbo also stated: 鈥淭his move is a deeply troubling contradiction and attempt to bolster Nigeria鈥檚 international image while failing to meet basic obligations owed to doctors toiling hard within the country.”

The Nigerian medical professionals further argued that doctors had been subjected to 鈥渃hronic delays鈥� in the payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), non-implementation of previously agreed welfare packages, and inconsistent application of the CONMESS salary structure.

These challenges have led to mass emigration of doctors, excessive workloads for those who remain, rising stress levels, and even preventable deaths, all of which contribute to worsening public health outcomes in the country, noted the statement.

Affirming its support for international collaboration and regional development, the Nigerian Medical Association, however, averred that it is 鈥渕orally unjustifiable鈥� for the government to export healthcare workers while paying them significantly more than their counterparts serving at home in Nigeria.

Government encouraging brain drain with disparity in doctors’ earnings, says NMA

The NMA stated comparatively between the doctors deployed abroad and those working within the country, the Saint Lucian Government pays its highest-earning doctors N131.7 million per annum.

The statement claimed the Nigerian doctors deployed to Saint Lucia under the Technical Manpower Assistance agreement receive N40.8 million annually from the Nigerian Government.

The Association disclosed the doctors serving within Nigeria earn an average of only N11.9 million per annum.

It stated: 鈥淲e are encouraging brain drain while patients suffer. It is indefensible.”

As regards the Bilateral Agreement between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, the Federal Government Wednesday announced plans to send professionals in various fields, including doctors, teachers, and agriculturists, to Saint Lucia and other Caribbean countries under a newly signed Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) agreement.

President Bola Tinubu administration’s agreement, signed in Castries, Saint Lucia, is said to be part of broader foreign policy agenda to promote South-South cooperation and reconnect with the African Diaspora in the Caribbean.

At the signing ceremony Yusuf Buba Yakub, Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC), signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Janelle Modeste-Stephen, Acting Permanent Secretary at Saint Lucia鈥檚 Ministry of External Affairs, signed on behalf of the host country.

Yakubu described the bilateral agreement as 鈥渁 great achievement.”

The Director-General of TAC said the agreement reflected Tinubu鈥檚 directive to provide technical aid to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

In the agreement, Nigerian volunteers are to serve for two years, with Nigeria covering their allowances and logistics, while the host countries provide accommodations and local support.

Yakub revealed that since August 2023, over 300 Nigerian professionals had been deployed to countries across Africa and the Caribbean States.

More are scheduled to depart for Grenada and Jamaica in the coming days, he said.

President Tinubu, who was on a state visit to Saint Lucia, the first leg of a two-nation tour of the Caribbean and South America, has since left the country for Rio De Janeiro, in Brazil.

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