Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, says Nigeria is facing a serious shortage of health professionals, part of a global crisis that is fueling migration and putting pressure on the country’s health system.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja to address the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Salako said the Federal Government is implementing both immediate and long-term measures to stabilize the sector and retain qualified staff.
“The World Health Organization recommends a doctor-patient ratio of 1 to 1,000. In Nigeria, it is approximately 1 to 3,500. This gap contributes to migration because, like any product, when there is a shortage, there will be movement. It is a global problem that we are all trying to solve.”
He explained that the government’s response includes increasing training and hiring to produce more doctors, nurses and other health professionals.
“We are creating more opportunities to train and employ health workers,” he said. “Some countries have turned their health workforce into an economic asset, and Nigeria is moving in that direction, so that even when some leave, others stay to strengthen the system.”
Salako also addressed concerns about the temporary employment of doctors and other staff in federal health institutions, clarifying that such arrangements were necessary to fill vacancies pending regular recruitment exercises.
“Because we know doctors are leaving, hospital executives are empowered to hire locally. Permanent employment takes time (applications, exams, IPPIS capture) so we allow hospitals to hire temporary staff until the next round of regular hiring.”
He added that the Ministry is developing a universal protocol to guide hospital management on fair and transparent temporary hiring.
“We are finalizing a protocol that defines how hospitals should hire staff locally: how long they can work and how they can transition to permanent positions,” the minister said.
Referring to the financial aspect of NARD’s complaints, Dr Salako said government payments had significantly reduced outstanding arrears.
“Of the £41bn owed, £21bn has been paid and a further £12bn is being processed,” he said. “This covers virtually all backlogs for healthcare workers.”
He further revealed that the ministry had established a task force to conduct unscheduled visits to hospitals to ensure continuity of care.
“We have created a task force that will monitor the hospitals and ensure that those who are not on strike are in their jobs,” he announced.
Salako reaffirmed the government’s commitment to equity and teamwork in the health sector.
“Everyone is important: doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists,” he stressed. “We recognize its peculiarities, but we must all work together as a team to build a stronger health system.”