The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to deploy Nigerian doctors to Saint Lucia and other Caribbean nations under the Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) agreement.
According to the NMA, this move is “inexcusable” and “morally unjustifiable” given the poor working conditions and neglect faced by medical professionals in Nigeria.
The NMA said in a statement dated Thursday, July 3, 2025, and signed by its Secretary General, Dr Benjamin Sichey Egbo.
“Exporting doctors while undermining their welfare at home is inexcusable,” the statement said.
The association expressed “deep concern and dismay” over the government’s move, arguing that it contradicted the reality faced by many Nigerian doctors, who are “struggling with poor remuneration, unpaid allowances, hazardous working conditions, and widespread burnout.
“This move is a deeply troubling contradiction and an attempt to bolster Nigeria’s international image while failing to meet basic obligations owed to doctors toiling hard within the country,” the statement read.
The NMA said Nigerian doctors had been subjected to “chronic delays” 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.
It also added, the challenges have led to mass emigration of doctors, excessive workloads for those who remain, rising stress levels, and even preventable deaths, all of which contributed to worsening public health outcomes in the country.
Recalled that Just a day earlier, on Wednesday, the NMA issued a separate 21-day ultimatum to the 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.
The association drew attention to the glaring disparity in earnings between Nigerian doctors deployed abroad and those working within the country.
According to the NMA, the Saint Lucian government pays its highest-earning doctors N131.7 million per annum.
In contrast, Nigerian doctors deployed to Saint Lucia under the Technical Manpower Assistance agreement receive N40.8 million annually from the Nigerian government.
Meanwhile, doctors serving within Nigeria earn an average of only N11.9 million per annum. “We are encouraging brain drain while patients suffer. It is indefensible,” the association noted.
In response to the criticism, the Federal Government has emphasised the importance of international collaboration and regional development.
However, the NMA insisted that the government should prioritize fixing the domestic healthcare system rather than exporting its workforce.
