President Bola Tinubu has approved an increase in the retirement age for doctors and other healthcare workers in Nigeria from 60 to 65 years.
This decision was announced by the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mannir Bature, in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has been tasked with formally presenting the approval to the Council on Establishment through the Office of the Head of Service for finalization.
During a high-level meeting with NMA President Prof. Bala Audu and key health sector stakeholders, Pate confirmed the policy shift. Attendees included leaders from the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and the Joint Health Sector Unions.
The meeting also focused on the progress made regarding the welfare of doctors and healthcare workers in Nigeria. Prof. Pate confirmed that the arrears resulting from the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) would be paid soon. The necessary funds have been secured for the disbursement, which is expected to begin shortly.
The minister also announced that President Tinubu had approved the correction of consequential adjustments for both CONMESS and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), arising from the new minimum wage implementation. The process to implement this correction is already underway, offering significant relief to healthcare workers.
Following an extensive review initiated by the NMA, approval has also been granted for new tariffs for healthcare service providers, particularly benefiting members of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners and Nurses (ANPMPN). This adjustment is expected to improve financial remuneration and sustainability for healthcare services across Nigeria.
Prof. Pate expressed his appreciation for the collaboration and patience of all stakeholders and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of healthcare workers. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s health sector.
The NMA has long advocated for increasing the retirement age of healthcare workers to 65 as a means of combating brain drain, improving knowledge transfer, and ensuring quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria. The move follows ongoing discussions and protests regarding the non-implementation of CONMESS and CONHESS for healthcare workers, with several health associations declaring nationwide strikes in the past.
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