The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed concern at the Federal Government’s agreement to deploy Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals to Saint Lucia.

This was as Nigeria officially commenced the deployment of skilled professionals to Saint Lucia following the signing of a Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) agreement between the two countries.

The association, yesterday, issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding urgent redress of its grievances. Among its key demands were the withdrawal of a contentious circular by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), full implementation of outstanding collective bargaining agreements, rectification of salary distortions, and safeguarding of doctors’ professional autonomy.

While affirming its support for international collaboration in healthcare, NMA described the latest approach as ethically unjustifiable. It warned that exporting underappreciated doctors while offering them significantly higher wages abroad only accelerates the depletion of Nigeria’s medical workforce and worsens the country’s health outcomes.

The doctors called on the government to reconsider its priorities and invest meaningfully in the country’s healthcare system rather than exporting its professionals under unequal and unjust conditions.

NMA Secretary-General, Dr Ben Egbo, stated yesterday in Lagos that deployment of skilled workers would encourage brain drain with its attendant health consequences.

Egbo said the agreement with the Caribbean country came at a time Nigerian doctors were grappling with systemic neglect, poor salaries and withheld allowances.  

According to him, it also coincides with the release of a controversial salary circular that undermines the welfare and professional dignity of doctors. 

He said: “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, who are toiling hard to serve Nigeria.

“We remind the Federal Government that Nigerian doctors have been suffering while working and serving Nigerians, with many doctors 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.” 

These challenges, he added, 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 said. 

Egbo disclosed that the Saint Lucia Government paid N131.7 million yearly to its premium doctors, while the Nigerian government would pay N40.8 million yearly to its doctors,who would serve in the Caribbean Island country.  In contrast, Egbo lamented that the Nigerian government pays N11.9 million yearly to doctors serving in Nigeria. 

“Exporting doctors while undermining their welfare at home is inexcusable,” Egbo said.   Nigeria and Saint Lucia signed a Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) agreement to deploy skilled Nigerian professionals to the Caribbean nation.

The pact was part of a bilateral agreement forged during President Bola Tinubu’s two-nation tour of the Caribbean and South America to deepen South-South cooperation.

According to a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the agreement, signed on Wednesday in Castries by Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC), Yusuf Yakub, and Acting Permanent Secretary of Saint Lucia’s Ministry of External Affairs, Janelle Modeste-Stephen, paves the way for Nigerian experts, including teachers, medical personnel and agriculturists, to serve two-year terms in Saint Lucia and potentially other Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) members.

The manpower programme is a key component of Tinubu’s ‘4D’ foreign policy strategy (Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography) aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s global influence, while fostering professional growth, cultural exchange and solidarity with historically connected nations.

Describing the accord as “a great achievement”, Yakub emphasised its alignment with Tinubu’s directive to expand Nigeria’s technical aid and deepen South-South cooperation.

Under the agreement, Nigeria will cover allowances and logistics for the volunteers, while host countries will provide accommodation and local support.