Abstract:
Background: Nigeria is experiencing unprecedented health workforce migration, particularly among nurses, physicians, and other skilled health professionals seeking better remuneration, working conditions, career advancement, and quality of life abroad. This trend has exacerbated existing shortages of healthcare workers, particularly in rural and underserved areas, threatening progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In response, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and key stakeholders, undertook the development of a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration to address the growing challenge.
Intervention: A comprehensive national situation analysis was conducted involving policy reviews, stakeholder consultations, key informant interviews, and validation workshops involving government agencies, professional associations, regulatory bodies, academia, development partners, and civil society organizations. Evidence generated informed the development of a national policy framework designed to strengthen workforce retention, improve working conditions, enhance workforce planning, foster ethical international recruitment, and promote bilateral agreements for managed migration.
Lessons Learned: The process demonstrated that health workforce migration is driven by interconnected economic, professional, social, and governance factors that require multisectoral solutions. Strong stakeholder engagement, political commitment, evidence-based planning, and alignment with global frameworks such as the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel were critical to achieving consensus and ownership.
Conclusions: Health workforce migration remains a significant threat to healthcare access and quality in Nigeria. However, coordinated policy responses, strategic investments in workforce retention, and strengthened health system governance offer viable pathways to mitigate its adverse effects. Nigeria's experience provides valuable lessons for other low- and middle-income countries facing similar workforce mobility challenges while balancing the rights of health workers with national health system needs.
Biography:
Dr. Godwin Asuquo, is a global health leader with over 20 years of experience in health policy, health workforce development, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and health systems strengthening. He has worked in senior leadership positions delivering impactful results in Africa – in Nigeria, Chad, Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania.
He currently serves as Public Health Lead with ECEWS, Nigeria, and also the founder of the Africa Centre for Health Leadership. Dr. Asuquo was the WHO National Consultant who led the development of Nigeria's National Policy on Health Workforce Migration. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Nursing, USA.
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