The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s Saint Lucia deal to deploy Nigerian doctors to the Caribbean country.
The association claimed that the deal has exposed what it described as “deep-rooted neglect of healthcare professionals in Nigeria.”
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that on Wednesday, Nigeria signed a Technical Manpower Assistance agreement with the government of Saint Lucia, paving the way for the deployment of skilled Nigerian professionals to the Caribbean nation as part of efforts to deepen South-South cooperation and reconnect with the African diaspora.
Under the Tinubu’s Saint Lucia deal, Nigerian expert volunteers, including teachers, medical professionals, and agriculturists will serve for two years in Saint Lucia.
Reacting, to the deal, NMA claimed that the agreement promised Nigerian doctors deployed to Saint Lucia an annual salary of ₦40.8 million, while those serving in Nigeria earn a paltry ₦11.9 million.
According to the association, this inequity is a “troubling contradiction” that undermines the welfare of doctors battling systemic challenges in Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system.
For further comparison, the NMA also noted that the government of Saint Lucia pays its doctors N131.7 million annually.
This was contained in a statement issued by NMA’s Secretary General, Dr. Benjamin Egbo.
The statement reads in part: “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.
“We remind the Federal Government that Nigerian doctors have been suffering while working and serving Nigerians.
“Many doctors are leaving the country due to Poor remuneration, Chronic delays in payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), non-implementation of previously negotiated welfare packages and agreements, Hazardous working conditions without commensurate risk allowances, and Lack of universal implementation of the CONMESS salary structure for many of the doctors.”
He added that these challenges have overburdened the doctors left behind, leading to burnout, stress, chronic diseases, and even death, which invariably increases morbidity and mortality among Nigerians.
“While the NMA supports regional cooperation and international engagement, 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,” he added.
