“It’s Morally Unjustifiable” — NMA Criticizes Tinubu’s Decision to Deploy Nigerian Doctors to Saint Lucia

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent agreement to deploy Nigerian medical professionals to Saint Lucia, calling the move “morally unjustifiable.” The deal, signed on Wednesday, includes sending skilled workers—teachers, doctors, and agriculturists—to the Caribbean nation as part of a broader manpower export initiative.

Reacting to the development, NMA Secretary-General Ben Egbo released a statement on Thursday condemning the decision. He said it reflects a troubling contradiction in government priorities, where efforts are being made to project international goodwill while neglecting the dire conditions faced by healthcare workers within Nigeria.

Egbo pointed out that Nigerian doctors are battling systemic issues such as poor salaries, withheld allowances, and hazardous working conditions. He also highlighted persistent delays in disbursing the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and the government’s failure to implement agreed welfare packages and the CONMESS salary structure uniformly across the health sector.

“These challenges have overburdened the doctors left behind, leading to burnout, stress, chronic diseases, and even death, which invariably increases morbidity and mortality among Nigerians,” the statement said.

While the NMA affirmed its support for international cooperation, it criticized the move as an unjustifiable encouragement of brain drain, especially when doctors sent abroad are reportedly being paid five times more than they earn at home. The association urged the federal government to prioritize fixing the domestic healthcare system rather than exporting its workforce.