African countries now paying $4000 for Nigerian doctors, CMDs tell Reps

Prof. Emem Bassey, the chairman of the committee of chief medical directors of the federal tertiary hospitals, claimed on Wednesday that other African nations are currently stealing Nigerian physicians and other healthcare workers.

Additionally, he claimed that Sierra Leone and the Gambia were providing them with up to $3000 to $4000, which was around three to four times what was available domestically.

According to Bassey, the CMD of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, the health sector is currently experiencing a severe workforce shortage as medical professionals are quitting in large numbers.

Additionally, he claimed that because the government frequently fell short of unrealistic promises, doctors frequently went on strike.

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“A strike should be the absolute last resort, but one of the things we have observed is the fact that we see threats, threats, and more threats,” continued Bassey. Governments have, in my opinion, negotiated unworkable resolutions in previous sessions purely out of a desire to put an end to a strike.

They currently have agreements that they are unable to carry out. After a certain amount of time—six months or a year—if you haven’t executed it, people start to strike. As a result, we must discuss and negotiate jointly.

Even though they have better choices abroad, the doctors should be patriotic and stay home to help the country prosper, said the Ad hoc Committee’s Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi.

He stated that the committee would seek to balance the requirement for adherence to the federal character with the necessity to fill critical vacancies in the health sector.

“I admit there is a dearth of cutting-edge medical facilities in our health sector,” Gagdi remarked. This is a fact, and as governments, we need to take note of it. We are perplexed about the issue of lack of patriotism.

“Nigerian institutions create you (medical doctors). We acknowledge the brain drain and are looking for answers. We are glad to have you among us. Many of you may have connections because you respect your intelligence enough to live in wealthy nations and provide your services to them. However, the majority of you think it fashionable to improve your own country and fatherland.

What patriotic values and the importance of giving back to the community that provided you with your education do you teach your professional colleagues? We ask you to uphold your moral principles and the standards of your particular trade. No matter how ungrateful your father is for bringing you this far to go and adopt someone’s father, you cannot disown him. Nigeria is where we live.

“Despite the corruption in the pay in our public sector, Nigeria produced us as doctors. Let’s collaborate and try to come up with some answers to that. But let’s stay in Nigeria and work for our own nation.

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Gadgi continued, “We would thoroughly review your submissions. We would interact specifically with these institutions regarding any open recruitment cases. We will check into your problem if you don’t have one.

“You have a strong case to make that your federal character is now balanced. Nigerians have taken you seriously. Therefore, whatever recommendations this committee makes to the government will be followed, and it will be fully for our own advantage.