The Federal Government of Nigeria has given its approval for the appointment of doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers as contract staff after reaching their mandatory retirement age or years of service.
According to a circular dated October 5, 2023, issued by the Federal Ministry of Health, this decision applies to healthcare professionals who have attained their compulsory retirement age.
It allows them to continue working as contract staff if they desire and meet the necessary criteria.
The circular also stipulates that these contract staff members will receive remuneration based on the same salary scale they had at the time of their retirement, provided they meet the required qualifications and conditions.
The Federal Ministry of Health has directed the heads of various healthcare institutions, including Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools, to ensure strict compliance with this directive.
This directive aligns with a previous circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which was dated August 30, 2023.
It’s worth noting that the OHCSF circular from August 30, 2023, had rejected a proposed increase in the retirement age for Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75, respectively.
This new decision aims to address workforce needs in the healthcare sector and ensure the continuity of quality healthcare services in Nigeria.
The circular titled ‘Re: Review of retirement age to 65 and 70 years for health professionals and medical/dental consultants,’ with reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S./145, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the FMoH.
The circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Olufemi Oloruntoba, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation read partly, “I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned memorandum presented at the 44th National Council on Establishment held from 5th-9th December 2022, in Yola, Adamawa State requesting a review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.
“After careful consideration of the memorandum, the council rejected the request based on the following: Professionals in the health sector were leaving the country because of pecuniary consideration and unfavourable conditions of service and not as a result of retirement age.
“Some state government had already increased the retirement age of medical doctors and other health workers and this has not addressed the spate of brain drain.”
In addition, it expressed dissatisfaction with the way in which health employees approached their jobs and noted that, despite government initiatives to support them, the outflow of health workers had not stopped.
“Council, however, approved that clinical health workers who have attained the compulsory retirement age/years may be given contract appointment on the same salary scale level that they retired on if desired and deserved.
“Government should engage the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Medical Association to extract some level of commitment from medical doctors.
“To address the observed dissatisfaction with the attitude of health workers to work, there is a need to institutionalize an effective performance management system in the public service in order to improve the work ethics of the medical officers and consultant, and medical doctors should show more patriotism in the discharge of their duties and avoid holding the system to ransom,” it added.
As a result, the FMoH advised all agency leaders, chief medical directors, medical directors, and heads of regulatory bodies and schools in its circular to guarantee that the OHCSF’s mandate was strictly followed.
The C.4007/T.2/37 circular was signed by Daloba Paul Edward, Deputy of Appointment, Promotion, and Discipline, on behalf of Prof. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
