He urged a restructuring of their compensation, distinct from the standard civil service scale, to reflect their specialized skills and global demand
Sen. Gbenga Daniel Links Nigerian Doctors’ Migration to Low Pay, Proposes Terminal Illness Fund
At the 47th International Conference of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) in Abeokuta, Senator Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun East, attributed the mass exodus of Nigerian doctors to inadequate pay. He urged a restructuring of their compensation, distinct from the standard civil service scale, to reflect their specialized skills and global demand.
“Nigerian doctors are among the best globally, thriving in hospitals abroad, yet undervalued at home,” Daniel said. “Their pay should match their expertise and international standards.”
The former Ogun State governor also called for a dedicated fund to support Nigerians with terminal illnesses, highlighting the financial devastation caused by treatment costs. He noted that a bill to establish this fund has advanced to its second reading in the National Assembly.
Daniel suggested diverting a portion of commercial banks’ annual profits—often in the trillions—to finance this initiative, providing relief for patients with conditions like cancer and kidney failure.
Similarly, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke echoed Daniel’s concerns, pointing to manpower shortages, poor pay, and brain drain as critical issues in Nigeria’s health sector. “Teachers and health workers should be the highest paid,” Duke argued, advocating for redirecting funds from less productive sectors to healthcare and introducing robust insurance for medical professionals.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Health Iziaq Salako reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding healthcare access through a new catastrophic health insurance scheme. “This initiative will cover Nigerians with severe health conditions, offering sustainable subsidies to ease financial burdens,” Salako said. Read More
