Nigerian government Seeks Ethical Health Worker Migration, Stronger UK Partnership

The Nigerian government has called for a more structured and ethical migration framework for healthcare workers while seeking stronger partnerships with the United Kingdom to improve health systems and achieve universal health coverage.

 

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The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made this call while delivering a keynote address at the UK-Africa Health Summit in London, organized by the Global Health Partnership at the Royal College of Physicians.

The summit, themed “Shared Solutions for Health for All,” brought together global health leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening healthcare systems through international collaborations.

Dr. Salako emphasized the long-standing diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the UK, noting that while migration of health professionals plays a role in global health workforce development, the current trend is disproportionately affecting Nigeria’s healthcare system.

He revealed that between 2020 and 2022, the number of Nigerian doctors, nurses, and laboratory scientists migrating abroad increased by 145%, 70%, and 900% respectively, with the UK being the leading destination.

“The movement of healthcare professionals across borders has been a critical factor in strengthening health systems and fostering knowledge exchange. However, it is vital that such migration is structured, fair, and mutually beneficial. Otherwise, source countries like Nigeria will continue to suffer the consequences of a depleted health workforce”. Dr. Salako said.

To address this challenge, he highlighted Nigeria’s newly developed National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, which aims to maximize the country’s healthcare workforce, leverage contributions from Nigerian health professionals abroad, and engage in bilateral and multilateral agreements for ethical recruitment.

He urged the UK and other destination countries to support this policy by investing in training programs and creating structured migration pathways that do not weaken Nigeria’s health sector.

“We call for more robust, legally binding bilateral agreements between Nigeria and the UK to ensure that health worker migration contributes positively to both nations. Destination countries must also invest in capacity building, healthcare infrastructure, and financing in Nigeria to create a sustainable and equitable system”. He stated.

 

 

Dr. Salako also commended Nigerian healthcare professionals in the UK for their contributions to both countries and highlighted the Strengthening Collaboration and Advancing Clinical Excellence (SCALE) program, an initiative by the Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG).

“The program fosters collaboration between UK Royal Medical Colleges, the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, and federal teaching hospitals to facilitate knowledge exchange and specialized training”.

“Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora have been instrumental in supporting our healthcare system through skills transfer, resource mobilization, and mentorship programs. We will continue to engage with them as key partners in national healthcare development”. He said.

On the broader issue of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Dr. Salako reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare system. He cited the implementation of the National Health Act 2014, which mandates that at least 1% of Nigeria’s consolidated revenue be allocated to healthcare.

This funding, he explained, is used to improve primary healthcare, expand social health insurance for vulnerable populations, and enhance emergency medical services.

However, the Minister acknowledged that underfunding remains a major challenge, worsened by recent aid cuts from donor countries such as the UK, US, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

He stressed that while Nigeria appreciates past support, it is now taking greater responsibility for financing its healthcare sector.

“This is a wake-up call for African countries to work towards self-sufficiency in healthcare financing. While we appreciate donor support over the years, we strongly advocate for a phased withdrawal of aid rather than abrupt cuts, as well as alternative funding strategies that promote economic stability in recipient countries”. Dr. Salako stated.

He called on international partners to engage in mutual discussions to ensure that aid transitions do not negatively impact low-income populations. He also urged African governments to explore innovative domestic resource mobilization to sustain healthcare investments.

 

The Minister expressed appreciation to the Global Health Partnership (formerly Tropical Health Education Trust) and the Global Health Workforce Programme for their contributions to Nigeria’s health system through capacity building, antimicrobial stewardship, and professional exchanges.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to mobilizing domestic resources to sustain these initiatives.

Dr. Salako emphasized that global health security requires collaboration beyond borders. He stressed the importance of partnerships in addressing public health threats, preventing future pandemics, and ensuring a resilient global health system.

“Our world cannot afford to operate within borders when it comes to health. We must continue to cooperate, collaborate, and build mutually rewarding partnerships to protect humanity from public health threats and strengthen global health resilience”. He said.

The UK-Africa Health Summit provided a platform for critical discussions on health partnerships, with a focus on addressing health workforce shortages, improving healthcare financing, and ensuring equitable healthcare access across Africa and the UK.