NMA asks FG to raise retirement age for health workers to 65

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is calling on the federal government to quickly set the retirement age for clinical health workers at 65 years.

The association believes this will help deal with the shortage of healthcare workers and stop them from leaving the country.

NMA President, Afekhide-Ernest Omoti, made this statement during a news conference in Abuja on Friday. This was after the association's 2026 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

Mr Omoti said the NEC is worried about the delay in making the retirement age of 65 years for clinical health workers a reality.

He added that Nigeria is facing a big shortage of skilled healthcare professionals due to migration and other reasons. Keeping experienced health workers in the system is very important.

The president stated that setting the retirement age at 65 years will be a necessary step as Nigeria works to fix the larger issue of healthcare worker shortages and migration.

Mr Omoti also raised concerns about the bad state of roads in Nigeria. He pointed out that poor roads affect healthcare delivery.

"Bad roads delay patients looking for emergency care, hinder referrals, affect the movement of medicines and supplies, and make it hard for healthcare workers to reach communities in need," he said.

The NMA is urging the government at all levels to make road repairs, construction, and maintenance a priority, especially for roads leading to healthcare facilities in rural areas.

He emphasized that the government must see road infrastructure as a key part of healthcare delivery and an important factor in health outcomes.

The NMA President also talked about the rising issue of drug and substance abuse among Nigerian youths. He said this is hurting mental health and communities, as well as the country’s workforce.

He described drug abuse as a growing public health crisis that needs a national response. He urged the federal government to make drug and substance abuse a top public health issue.

The president said the government should boost prevention programs, enhance public education, control access to harmful substances, and expand mental health and addiction treatment services across all healthcare levels.

NMA is also asking for more teamwork among the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies that handle health, education, youth development, security, and social welfare to tackle this problem.

Additionally, the NMA expressed worry over the government's failure to implement tax relief for essential workers, especially healthcare professionals.

Mr Omoti stated that medical workers provide crucial services under tough conditions, including long hours and emergency responses, often in underserved areas.

He called on the government to provide tax waivers, rebates, or other reliefs to healthcare workers in both public and private sectors.

"Doctors in private hospitals need protection from heavy taxes and electricity costs that can be passed on to poor patients," he said.

The president believes these actions will help improve the welfare and retention of health professionals in Nigeria.

Mr Omoti also mentioned that the NMA NEC is worried about the ongoing delays in carrying out the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with health workers.

He said that these delays are causing dissatisfaction among workers and encouraging doctors and other health professionals to leave Nigeria.

He also highlighted the issue of insecurity and the safety of health workers. He expressed concern over the increasing cases of killings, kidnapping, and other forms of violence in the country.

"We are particularly troubled by the ongoing captivity of a doctor from Niger State, who has been held for about four months. This is unacceptable," he said.

The NMA president is asking the government and security agencies to step up efforts to combat banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism across Nigeria.

He urged the government to improve security around healthcare facilities and ensure the safe return of the kidnapped doctor and other citizens.

Mr Omoti acknowledged some progress by the government in healthcare infrastructure and services but stressed the need to also invest in the healthcare workforce.

"A hospital without doctors, nurses, and other skilled professionals cannot provide the quality of care Nigerians deserve," he said.