Editorial

Better Conditions For Health Workers

Published

5 years ago

December 27, 2020

Deeply worried about the brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector, the House of Representatives has called on the federal government to strongly discourage the migration of health workers to other countries. The House specifically urged the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity to review the salaries, allowances and welfare of medical practitioners in the country.
The Representatives equally urged the ministry to quickly expand the rapidly shrinking size of medical workers to create employment for the unemployed and develop a functional strategy that would captivate Diaspora medical personnel to work at the nation’s teaching hospitals and other health institutions.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Ganiyu Johnson during the plenary. Moving the motion, Johnson said that despite Nigeria being among the highest producers of Diaspora doctors in the world, the nation faces a critical shortage of medical practitioners. He blamed the brain drain in the sector on poor remuneration and working conditions.
“Nigeria has over 90,000 qualified medical doctors practising abroad, and in fact, an average of 50 doctors who had their primary medical education in Nigeria are said to be registering for practice every week in the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), Canada and other oil-rich countries”, said Johnson.
We share the concerns or apprehension of the Representatives. The exodus of medical practitioners in Nigeria is worrisome and has particularly gone out of control, contributing to acute shortages of specialised and experienced health professionals in the country. If not curbed, it will be very tough for Nigeria to tackle the increasing poverty rate given that health is wealth.
At independence, this nation built a health system structured basically along with the model of the colonialists. From the 60s through the mid-80s, the health system was anchored and led by seasoned health administrators who coordinated the health manpower comprising pharmacists, doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, radiographers and other cadres of health workers.
The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, since the 1960s through mid-1970s, was the ‘Mecca’ of medicine in Africa and indeed medical tourism. It ranked the fourth best university teaching hospital in the Commonwealth where Saudi kings came for treatment; queens were delivered of princes and princesses. By 1975, it was a designated Centre of Excellence in medicine.
However, by mid-1980s, the finest medical teachers started leaving for the Middle East and the West and the young physicians they trained moved to the West mostly for postgraduate trainings. Human capital, quality research, medical education and patient care suffered greatly while infrastructure decayed from poor funding and management. The few decades that followed witnessed a continued downturn in both human capital and infrastructure, resulting in human capital flight, brain drain and medical tourism.
Brain drain is a major challenge facing the Nigerian health system, leading to a dramatic reduction in the number of doctors and medical practitioners in the country. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Nigeria is one of the three leading African sources of foreign-born doctors and general medical professionals. This is unacceptable and doesn’t tell well of the country.
The exodus has led to a drastic drop in the quality of health care services following the absence of skilled personnel. It is scandalous that despite the severe nature of this provocation and how it has badly affected the health sector, the Nigerian government is unable to reverse the trend, largely for lack of concern. Curiously, Nigeria was the only African country listed among the 20 top exporters of doctors in 2004, with a loss of 5, 499 doctors up from 1, 519 in 1991.
Clearly, at this rate, health indicators may keep declining in the absence of aggressive interventions to stop the trend. More doctors leaving the country will eventually lead to a depletion of Nigerian medical doctors. This, in turn, will add to the stress and dissatisfaction among those remaining. The poor will not be able to access health care while the rich will travel out of the country for medical attention.
A reason doctors and other health professionals leave for greener pastures is impoverished pay. Apart from abysmally low pay packages, the actual payment of salaries is often irregular. An equally major driver is miserable working conditions. This includes having to work extra hours due to inadequate staff, lack of diagnostic facilities and sometimes the need to support monthly incomes.
These problems emanate from the government’s low funding of the sector. Surprisingly, in the 2020 budget of N10.33 trillion, the health sector received only 4.14 per cent, that is, N427.03 billion out of the total budget. This is much lower than the estimated 13.5% of South Africa’s national expenditure dedicated to health. The lack of funding has brought about insufficient remuneration, the dearth of medical facilities and inadequate infrastructure in the sector.
To reverse the brain drain, the Nigerian government should rejig the entire health care system in the country. The introduction of a workable national health policy is imperative at this time. A renewed health care system will certainly create the required environment for medical practitioners to function. This includes the provision of basic equipment and infrastructure.
We support the call by the House for a review of our health workers’ pay. It is also our opinion that they be given a special salary scale. There is a need for an extension of their retirement age since at 60, when they are expected to disengage from service, many are often still fit and active. If judges, lecturers and of recent teachers could be granted such consideration, health practitioners who perform the all-important duty of saving lives must not be denied similar largesse.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

4 days ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

Nigeria’s Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has unveiled a gratuitous proposal to increase the salaries of political and public office holders in the country. This plan seeks to fatten the pay packets of the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, and members of the National and State Assemblies. At a time when the nation is struggling to steady its economy, the suggestion that political leaders should be rewarded with more money is not only misplaced but insulting to the sensibilities of the ordinary Nigerian.

What makes the proposal even more opprobrious is the dire economic condition under which citizens currently live. The cost of living crisis has worsened, inflation has eroded the purchasing power of workers, and the naira continues to tumble against foreign currencies. The majority of Nigerians are living hand to mouth, with many unable to afford basic foodstuffs, medical care, and education. Against this backdrop, political office holders, who already enjoy obscene allowances, perks, and privileges, should not even contemplate a salary increase.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has stepped in to challenge this development. SERAP has filed a lawsuit against the RMAFC to halt the implementation of this salary increment. This resolute move represents a voice of reason and accountability at a time when public anger against political insensitivity is palpable. The group is rightly insisting that the law must serve as a bulwark against impunity.

According to a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the commission has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Although a hearing date remains unconfirmed, the momentous step of seeking judicial redress reflects a determination to hold those in power accountable. SERAP has once again positioned itself as a guardian of public interest by challenging an elite-centric policy.

The case, registered as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025, specifically asks the court to determine “whether RMAFC’s proposed salary hike for the president, vice-president, governors and their deputies, and lawmakers in Nigeria is not unlawful, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the rule of law.” This formidable question goes to the very heart of democratic governance: can those entrusted with public resources decide their own pay rises without violating the constitution and moral order?

In its pleadings, SERAP argues that the proposed hike runs foul of both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the RMAFC Act. By seeking a judicial declaration that such a move is unlawful, unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the rule of law, the group has placed a spotlight on the tension between self-serving leadership and constitutionalism. To trivialise such an issue would be harum-scarum, for the constitution remains the supreme authority guiding governance.

We wholeheartedly commend SERAP for standing firm, while we roundly condemn RMAFC’s selfish proposal. Political office should never be an avenue for financial aggrandisement. Since our leaders often pontificate sacrifice to citizens, urging them to tighten their belts in the face of economic turbulence, the same leaders must embody sacrifice themselves. Anything short of this amounts to double standards and betrayal of trust.

The Nigerian economy is not buoyant enough to shoulder the additional cost of a salary increase for political leaders. Already, lawmakers and executives enjoy allowances that are grossly disproportionate to the national average income. These earnings are sufficient not only for their needs but also their unchecked greed. To even consider further increments under present circumstances is egregious, a slap in the face of ordinary workers whose minimum wage remains grossly insufficient.

Resources earmarked for such frivolities should instead be channelled towards alleviating the suffering of citizens and improving the nation’s productive capacity. According to United Nations statistics, about 62.9 per cent of Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty in 2021, compared to 53.7 per cent in 2017. Similarly, nearly 30.9 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$2.15 per day. These figures paint a stark picture: Nigeria is a poor country by all measurable standards, and any extra naira diverted to elite pockets deepens this misery.

Besides, the timing of this proposal could not be more inappropriate. At a period when unemployment is soaring, inflation is crippling households, and insecurity continues to devastate communities, the RMAFC has chosen to pursue elite enrichment. It is widely known that Nigeria’s economy is in a parlous state, and public resources should be conserved and wisely invested. Political leaders must show prudence, not profligacy.

Another critical dimension is the national debt profile. According to the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s total public debt as of March 2025 stood at a staggering N149.39 trillion. External debt obligations also remain heavy, with about US$43 billion outstanding by September 2024. In such a climate of debt-servicing and borrowing to fund budgets, it is irresponsible for political leaders to even table the idea of inflating their salaries further. Debt repayment, not self-reward, should occupy their minds.

This ignoble proposal is insensitive, unnecessary, and profoundly reckless. It should be discarded without further delay. Public office is a trust, not an entitlement to wealth accumulation. Nigerians deserve leaders who will share in their suffering, lead by example, and prioritise the common good over self-indulgence. Anything less represents betrayal of the social contract and undermines the fragile democracy we are striving to build.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

4 days ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

Editorial

Rivers’ Retirees: Matters Arising

Published

3 weeks ago

September 8, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government deserves commendation for the manner in which it conducted the last biometric exercise for pensioners in the state. For the first time in many years, the verification process was not only efficient but also humane, a development that has brought relief to a category of citizens that often bears the brunt of neglect.

Unlike previous verification exercises that left pensioners exhausted and unattended, the latest exercise set a refreshing precedent. Retirees were given proper and sumptuous meals, and in addition, the government paid the sum of N10,000 into their accounts to cushion their transportation costs. Such gestures go a long way in demonstrating that those who had laboured for the state are not forgotten in their twilight years.

The measure was particularly necessary given that some pensioners had to travel long distances to reach their verification centres. For elderly men and women, such journeys come with physical and financial strain. By recognising these realities and easing the burden, the government has shown that pensioners deserve dignity, not disdain.

Beyond this laudable act of consideration, the authorities must reflect on the very structure of pension verification. The era of compelling retirees to be physically present for routine verification should be reconsidered. With digital tools and innovation, the government can adopt systems that capture and confirm data without the stress of physical assembly. This is crucial for pensioners residing in other states or even abroad.

While we acknowledge the importance of verification in cleaning up pension records, we cannot ignore the darker side of the matter. It is regrettable that some allowances continue to be paid to deceased pensioners, with relatives fraudulently collecting the funds. The latest biometrics, thankfully, exposed some of these sharp practices. The exercise, therefore, is not only about order but also about justice.

We urge families of deceased pensioners to be patriotic enough to inform the government of the deaths of their loved ones. It is deeply shameful that in some instances, individuals attempted to impersonate late pensioners during the biometrics. Such behaviour undermines the spirit of honesty and deprives genuine retirees of their due entitlements.

The exercise also revealed another important area of concern: the health of pensioners. It is reassuring to learn that the state government has reportedly promised to take over the medical treatment of some retirees who arrived for the biometrics in critical condition. This is a step in the right direction. Elderly citizens, after years of service, should have access to special health care facilities in the state. Setting aside hospitals or designated centres for the aged is not just desirable but necessary.

While pension payments in Rivers State have remained consistent, attention must now be directed towards gratuities. Senior citizens deserve to receive their retirement benefits without the bureaucratic hitches that have often marred the process. After years of loyal service, nothing is more demoralising than to see retirees languish for want of their gratuities. Every worker, as Scripture reminds us, is worthy of his wage.

Retirement, in any civilised society, should not be reduced to a sentence of suffering. In dealing with pensioners, government must consistently wear a human face. The humane manner displayed during this verification exercise should not be a one-off. It must become the norm in all dealings with retirees. Measures must continually be put in place to ensure that they do not feel abandoned by the state they served.

One welcome innovation has already been introduced. The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has altered the method of gratuity payment. Pensioners now receive their monies directly into their bank accounts, eliminating the cheque-based system that for years served as fertile ground for corruption. This reform is both pragmatic and forward-looking. Similarly, the implementation of the N32,000 pension harmonisation is also commendable.

Direct payments gratuities ensure transparency and drastically reduce the possibility of diversion of funds. More importantly, they restore confidence in the system and assure pensioners that their entitlements will reach them without interference. In this way, the government has not only safeguarded the process but also upheld the principle of accountability.

Seamless gratuity payment has a ripple effect on the workforce as a whole. When workers are confident that retirement will not plunge them into hardship, the temptation to falsify age in order to remain in service is eliminated. Such reforms, therefore, enhance efficiency, honesty, and productivity in the public service.

In sum, the Rivers State Government has struck a refreshing chord in its handling of pension verification. It has shown empathy, innovation, and accountability. However, the momentum must be sustained, and the focus must shift towards modernising verification methods and prioritising retirees’ welfare in health, gratuity, and dignity.

When retirees are treated with compassion and fairness, the message to those still in service is clear: faithful service to the state will not go unrewarded. The humane verification exercise, though a single event, offers a hopeful glimpse of what governance can look like when people, especially the elderly, are placed at the heart of policy.