Nigerian Doctors Abroad Demand Improved Security, Salaries To Return
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Nigerian-born doctors practicing in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have stated their conditions for returning to Nigeria.
They demand improved security, competitive salaries, and better infrastructure.
The doctors reacted to the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration aimed at wooing 12,400 Nigerian-trained doctors abroad. While the policy offers incentives, the doctors say Nigeria needs more than that to revive its deteriorating medical sector.
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The doctors emphasized security, good salaries, infrastructure, and a better economy as essential conditions for their return. They expressed concerns about the government’s ability to guarantee safety, provide competitive welfare packages, and address systemic issues that led to the exodus of healthcare professionals.
One doctor, Fikayo Benson, said, “We are not just motivated by financial incentives but also by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of our fellow Nigerians.”
Another doctor, Adefemi Adeoye, stressed the importance of a safe and conducive working environment, saying, “Apart from giving incentives, the government must also assure us of safety and a conducive environment.”
A female doctor in the UK expressed her reluctance to return, citing security concerns and the recent abduction of medical students in Benue.
A Nigerian couple practicing medicine in Canada also expressed their doubts about returning, citing persisting insecurity challenges, poor economy, and widespread corruption.
