The first Vice President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Benjamin Olowojabutu, has urged the Federal Government to fast-track critical policy reforms in the health sector, warning that continued neglect is fueling the mass migration of Nigerian doctors abroad.
Speaking during an interview on TVC, Olowojabutu stressed the need for the government to urgently conclude the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations, which resumed in August 2025 after years of stagnation.
“Every three years, there is supposed to be a review of the CBA to reflect prevailing economic realities, but the last time this was properly done in Nigeria was about 14 years ago,” he said.
“We are glad discussions have started again, but the government must act swiftly to conclude the process.”
He called for a comprehensive review of doctors’ remuneration, including salary increases and enhanced allowances, noting that current earnings fall short of a “living wage.”
According to him, beyond salary adjustments, doctors should be reclassified from professional to essential service providers to enable access to tax reliefs and rebates.
“Your take-home pay should reflect a living wage, not just a basic salary,” he added.
The NMA leader emphasized that healthcare must be treated as a fundamental right rather than merely a social service, urging authorities to prioritize investment in the sector.
“If government makes healthcare a real priority, not just social capital but a right of the people, then the system will improve significantly,” he said.
Olowojabutu also highlighted the worsening brain drain in the sector, revealing that a growing number of Nigerian doctors are leaving the country in search of better opportunities.
To reverse the trend, he proposed a range of incentives, including provision of quality housing, access to low-interest loans, improved hospital infrastructure, enhanced security, and educational support for doctors’ children.
“If you provide good working conditions, decent accommodation, affordable loans to develop hospitals, and ensure their safety, doctors will be encouraged to stay,” he noted.
While acknowledging the recent policy extending doctors’ retirement age to 65, he described it as insufficient without corresponding welfare improvements.
“There must be compensation for staying back in the country. Without that, the exodus will continue,” he warned.
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