Nigerian Medical Association Condemns Tinubu’s Doctor Export Deal with Saint Lucia, Calls It ‘Morally Unjustifiable’
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over a newly signed agreement to deploy Nigerian medical professionals to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, calling the move a betrayal of Nigeria’s struggling healthcare system.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Benjamin Egbo, the NMA expressed “deep concern and dismay” over the deal, arguing that it prioritizes international diplomacy over the wellbeing of doctors and patients within Nigeria.
“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 described the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed during President Tinubu’s official visit to Saint Lucia, as a contradiction to the government’s failure to resolve worsening domestic issues in the health sector. The agreement, brokered by the Federal Ministry of Health and coordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to address Saint Lucia’s severe shortage of healthcare workers using Nigerian personnel.
According to the government, the initiative is part of a broader “soft-power diplomacy” effort and promises better pay for Nigerian doctors reportedly up to five times higher than local earnings.
However, the NMA rejected this justification, stressing that exporting healthcare professionals without addressing the root causes of mass migration (brain drain) only deepens the crisis.
The group noted that Nigeria’s healthcare system is already overwhelmed due to poor remuneration, delayed payments of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), hazardous working conditions, and non-implementation of key welfare agreements.
“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,” said Egbo.
The NMA also highlighted the adverse effects on medical personnel who remain in Nigeria, citing increasing cases of burnout, chronic illness, and death among health workers.
Just a day earlier, on July 2, the NMA had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government demanding urgent action on unresolved grievances. These include:
- Withdrawal of the controversial NSIWC salary circular
- Settlement of unpaid allowances
- Enforcement of collective bargaining agreements
- Restoration of professional dignity and autonomy for medical workers
“While the NMA supports regional cooperation and global engagement, it is morally indefensible to send healthcare workers abroad with significantly better incentives while neglecting those working under harsh conditions at home,” the statement concluded.
The association also released a comparative salary chart showing a stark contrast between what Nigerian doctors earn locally and what they would receive under the Saint Lucia arrangement, further fueling outrage among medical professionals nationwide.
As the ultimatum deadline approaches, all eyes remain on the government’s response amid growing unrest in the health sector.
