Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health, announced on Saturday that the Federal Government has issued a directive requiring health workers intending to seek employment opportunities abroad to resign from their current positions before embarking on such journeys.
Addressing concerns over the “Japa Syndrome,” a term commonly used to describe the trend of health workers leaving the country in search of better opportunities, Alausa emphasized that health professionals must no longer apply for leave of absence but instead resign from their roles before pursuing opportunities overseas.
Alausa attributed this decision to an executive order issued by President Bola Tinubu, aiming to combat the brain drain phenomenon affecting Nigeria’s health sector. He stressed the government’s commitment to tackling the challenges posed by health worker shortages and ensuring adequate manpower in the sector.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to address manpower shortages, Alausa revealed that the annual enrollment of nurses has significantly increased from 28,000 to 68,000, with plans to further raise it to 120,000 by the end of the year. Similar efforts are being made to boost the enrollment of doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
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Regarding the operational implications of the directive, Alausa explained that health workers who opt to work abroad should formally resign from their positions to avoid creating logistical challenges for their colleagues and healthcare facilities back home. He emphasized that this approach would streamline the recruitment process and prevent unnecessary burdens on the healthcare system.
Responding to the demands for increased funding and infrastructure development in healthcare facilities, Alausa assured that the Ministry of Health is committed to addressing these concerns to improve the overall state of the health sector in Nigeria.
Dr. Paul Agboola, the Provost and Chief Medical Director of the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, commended the Minister for his dedication and efforts to enhance the healthcare system. He highlighted ongoing projects initiated under the Minister’s approval, including the establishment of the Institute of Psychiatric, which had been pending for over four decades.
