The National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Bala Audu, has lauded the Ogun State Government for its various programmes and policies aimed at improving healthcare delivery to its citizens. He also called for the full implementation of the ongoing review of doctors’ salaries and retirement age by the National Council on Health, with a view to reducing the dwindling number of medical personnel in hospitals as a result of the ‘Japa’ syndrome.
Prof. Audu and his team, who were in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, for the National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the Association, paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, in her office in Abeokuta.
He noted that the rate at which medical personnel were leaving the country was on the high side and becoming worrisome. Consequently, many states that had advertised for doctors and medical personnel were unable to get applicants because of migration in search of greener pastures. He therefore advocated the review of doctors’ and medical personnel salaries and retirement age, particularly for those working in hospitals and offering clinical services.
“We went for a medical outreach in Ala-Idowa area of Ijebu, and we were very impressed with the Primary Health Centre in the community and the tremendous turnout by members of the community. We are happy that the Ogun State Government is at the forefront of ensuring that doctors and other healthcare workers are well taken care of, including their welfare. We also appreciate the hospitality we received and the relationship between the State NMA and the Government, particularly the Ministry of Health, led by the Commissioner,” he said.
Prof. Audu also commended the State Government for the establishment of the 250-bed hospital, saying it would no doubt help address major health challenges, not only for citizens of the state but for the country at large. He also used the opportunity to acknowledge the support of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the people of the state towards a successful NMA NEC meeting in Abeokuta.
Prof. Audu, however, promised that the NMA would continue to deliver high-quality and internationally competitive healthcare to citizens of the country despite the shortage of medical personnel.
In her response, the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, welcomed the team to the state and thanked them for choosing Abeokuta for this year’s NEC meeting.
She reiterated the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led government’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of medical personnel and delivering quality healthcare to its citizens.
“Here in Ogun State, we pride ourselves on the improvements we have made in the six years we have been in office. Just recently, His Excellency presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly, and he has allocated 210 billion naira to the health sector. This will improve healthcare facilities, personnel welfare, their training, and every other thing that needs to be put in place to make the state’s health sector attractive to health workers,” she said.
She added that the State Government had placed a lot of emphasis on its primary healthcare system since the present administration assumed office, upgrading 142 Primary Healthcare Centres and equipping them to effectively provide services to citizens across the state.
She expressed the government’s readiness to continue working with the NMA, while calling for a better working relationship to help build more confidence in the Health Insurance Scheme initiated by the government for both the formal and informal sectors of the state, as well as support advocacy campaigns.
The Deputy Governor commended the NMA for its efforts to review doctors’ and medical personnel retirement age, noting that many of them remain very active in the private sector after retirement.
On the 250-bed hospital, she explained that although it was inherited from the past administration, the present government had equipped it with world-class facilities, with a view to reducing medical tourism out of the country, while also making it a centre of medical excellence.
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