Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Chairman, Fuad Atanda-Lawal, greenlights a 10 percent salary increase for doctors serving in primary health centers within the council.
According to the Reports, Atanda-Lawal revealed this decision on Thursday following thorough discussions emphasizing the importance of providing comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable healthcare for all council residents.
The elevated pay will be implemented starting February 2024, as stated by the council leader. This move aims to counteract the prevalent brain drain in the nation’s health sector, commonly referred to as japa.
The chairman emphasized his conviction that Nigeria possesses doctors capable of global competition, given the right incentives.
“This is coming on the heels of the commencement of the construction of a state-of-the-art primary health centre that will cater for a larger number of people in the community.
“I want to reiterate the council’s commitment to supporting the efforts of our esteemed President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Governor Babajide Sanwolu in delivering quality and affordable health care to all citizens.
“We believe that by investing in our health care professionals, we are taking a step towards achieving this goal,” the chairman said.
In Januray, Dr. Eniayewun Ademuyiwa, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Service Commission, expressed concern over the strain on government-owned hospitals caused by the mass exodus of health workers seeking better opportunities abroad, commonly referred to as ‘japa.’
He disclosed that the scarcity of personnel in certain federal facilities had led to a rise in the admission of patients to state hospitals throughout Lagos.
In the previous year, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors reported that over 1,417 of their members migrated abroad in pursuit of better opportunities.
