NMA: Urges 65 Retirement Age for Nigerian Clinical Health Workers

• The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the Federal Government to implement a 65-year retirement age for clinical health workers.
• This measure is intended to retain experienced professionals and address the significant shortage of skilled healthcare personnel in Nigeria, exacerbated by migration.
• The NMA also called for the conclusion of an outstanding collective bargaining agreement and warned that infrastructure investments alone are insufficient without a robust workforce.
• Concerns were raised about widespread insecurity affecting healthcare workers, citing a medical practitioner from Niger State held captive for four months.
• The association emphasized that difficult working conditions, inadequate pay, and insecurity contribute to the brain drain of medical professionals from the country.

An effective health system cannot be guaranteed by infrastructure alone; it requires a motivated, adequately protected, and properly remunerated health workforce.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has formally urged the Federal Government to promptly implement a 65-year retirement age for clinical health workers across the nation. This critical policy adjustment, according to the NMA, is essential for retaining experienced professionals and mitigating the severe shortage of skilled healthcare personnel currently facing Nigeria.

Dr. Afekhide Omoti, President of the NMA, articulated this demand during a press briefing held in Abuja on a Friday, following the association's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The NEC gathering, which convened representatives of medical doctors from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, took place between August 24 and 28, 2026. Dr. Omoti emphasized that the ongoing delay in fully implementing the 65-year retirement age for clinical health workers is particularly concerning as Nigeria continues to lose seasoned doctors and other health professionals to international migration.

He underscored the necessity of retaining experienced clinicians within the system, especially given the significant shortage of skilled healthcare professionals exacerbated by migration and other factors. The NMA President called for the urgent implementation of the 65-year retirement age without any undue or unnecessary limitations, viewing it as an important palliative measure. This step, he noted, would provide immediate relief while the country addresses the more extensive challenges of healthcare workforce shortages and the persistent problem of medical brain drain.

The NMA's call for an increased Nigerian Medical Association retirement age forms part of a comprehensive review of challenges impacting Nigeria's health sector. These wider issues include the state of healthcare infrastructure, the welfare of health workers, pervasive insecurity, ongoing migration, drug and substance abuse, and inadequate road infrastructure.

While acknowledging government investments in healthcare infrastructure, Dr. Omoti cautioned that such initiatives would prove insufficient without corresponding attention to the healthcare workforce. He stressed that infrastructure alone cannot guarantee an effective health system; it requires a motivated, adequately protected, and properly remunerated health workforce. The association therefore pressed the government to ensure that infrastructure development is matched with substantial investments in healthcare professionals, warning that hospitals and other facilities cannot deliver quality services without an adequate number of skilled personnel, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists.

Furthermore, the NMA directly linked the demand for a higher retirement age to the broader issue of brain drain, highlighting that difficult working conditions, insecurity, inadequate remuneration, and limited career opportunities are among the systemic challenges compelling health professionals to leave the country. The association asserted that this trend must be urgently reversed. They also called for the conclusion and implementation of the outstanding healthcare collective bargaining agreement between the Federal Government and health workers, urging its finalization early enough for its financial implications to be incorporated into the 2027 budget. The NMA indicated that prolonged delays in addressing the demands of health workers have fueled dissatisfaction within the workforce, further encouraging the migration of medical doctors and other health professionals.

Beyond issues of welfare and retirement, the Nigerian Medical Association raised significant concerns regarding the insecurity affecting clinical health workers Nigeria. The association called for enhanced protection for medical personnel and healthcare facilities, particularly in vulnerable communities, emphasizing the critical role these individuals play in societal well-being.

Dr. Omoti highlighted a distressing incident, revealing that a medical practitioner from Niger State had reportedly been held captive for approximately four months, a situation he described as unacceptable. He underscored that healthcare workers are essential to the survival and well-being of communities and should not be forced to choose between saving their patients and protecting their own lives. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous environments many healthcare professionals navigate, adding another layer of complexity to the NMA's healthcare policy demands aimed at retaining and protecting its members.

This article signals a potential future policy shift regarding the retirement age for clinical health workers in Nigeria. Lawyers advising healthcare providers or the government should monitor developments for legislative changes that could impact employment contracts, pension obligations, and workforce management strategies. It also highlights ongoing collective bargaining issues and security concerns for healthcare professionals, which may lead to further regulatory or contractual negotiations.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers