Speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* program on Tuesday, the minister said that if health workers of Nigerian origin were to withdraw from the National Health Service (NHS), the service would struggle significantly.
Discussing the new National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, approved by President Bola Tinubu to address the exodus of health workers from Nigeria—a phenomenon colloquially known as ‘Japa’—the minister emphasized the attractiveness of Nigerian healthcare professionals and noted that the country should take pride in this. He also pointed out that not all Nigerian health workers leave the country and that those who do have their reasons.
Pate explained that the policy “is really about health diplomacy and promoting ethical recruitment practices.”
“The recruiting countries that hire our professionals should have some responsibility in helping us expand training programs. The strain of health workers’ migration is ongoing; it’s not going to stop tomorrow.
“The UK will continue to need Nigerian doctors. 67% of our doctors go to the United Kingdom, and 25% of the NHS workforce is Nigerian.
“For example, does the UK want to consider expanding pre-service education? Can we establish agreements that allow them to take our professionals while also helping us train more to replace them? This falls under the realm of health diplomacy and ethical recruitment,” Pate said.
“Nigerians are vibrant, entrepreneurial, and capable wherever they are. If Nigerians were to hold back from the UK, for instance, the NHS would struggle to provide the services that many Nigerians go there to receive,” he added.
Pate also mentioned that over 75% of health workers trained in Nigeria in the past year have left the country as economic migrants. “We have good training centers here, and the universities are doing a great job,” he admitted.
He acknowledged that while there is freedom of movement and the government cannot stop people from leaving, the government will work to make it more conducive for them to stay and practice in Nigeria.
The new policy aims to facilitate incentives for medical workers to remain in Nigeria, including improved welfare packages and enhanced capacity development.
Another focus of the new policy is the promotion of a decent work environment, ensuring that shifts do not exceed 12 hours
