Lecturers Respond to Doctor Migration with Calls for Wage Increase and Recruitment Lift
Some lecturers have advised the Federal Government to increase wages and lift the ban on the recruitment of doctors
Chukwuebuka Aniakor 
In light of the increasing migration of doctors and other health workers to other countries, lecturers have urged the Federal Government to increase wages and lift the ban on the recruitment of doctors. The migration is reportedly taking a toll on hospitals across the country.
Chief Clinical Oncologist at the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Cancer Centre, Prof. Francis Durosinmi-Etti, emphasized the need to improve the remuneration of doctors and other health personnel. He stated, “We need to find a way to improve the remuneration of doctors. Many people would like to stay here in Nigeria if they can give them a special package, especially for young doctors.”
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Prof. Durosinmi-Etti also highlighted the alarming rate of burnout among doctors, with some collapsing while on duty. He called on the Federal Government to lift the temporary embargo on the recruitment of doctors, noting that many are looking for jobs or are on temporary employment.
Dr Dele Ashiru of the University of Lagos echoed these sentiments, attributing the current situation to long years of neglect of hospital workers. He urged the government to increase salaries and provide competitive wages and robust conditions of service to stem the drain.
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However, Prof. Durosinmi-Etti expressed reservations about the memo to universities to increase medical student admissions as a solution to the challenge. He argued that increasing admissions may attract people who do not have the qualifications, emphasizing that medicine requires facilities, not just classroom learning.
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Dr Ashiru concurred, stating that increasing intake without improving working conditions would still lead to doctors leaving the country. He concluded, “The government should just increase wages and improve conditions of service for doctors, nurses, and teachers.”
