Posted on: Tue 01-04-2025

 

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has raised serious concerns over the poor employment rate of nurses in the country. While hospitals remain understaffed and overburdened, thousands of trained nurses are either unemployed or underutilized—a paradox that begs the question: Why is Nigeria losing its healthcare workforce to other countries while failing to fully engage the ones at home?

The ‘Japa’ Syndrome: Who’s to Blame?

It’s no secret that nurses are leaving Nigeria in droves—a trend popularly known as ‘Japa.’ Countries like the UK, Canada, and the US actively recruit Nigerian nurses with promises of better pay, improved working conditions, and professional growth.

Yet, back home, many trained nurses struggle to find jobs or work under deplorable conditions with little motivation. If nurses can’t secure employment despite a critical shortage in the health sector, how can Nigeria stop the brain drain?

A Crisis of Policy, Not Talent

This is not a case of nurses being unqualified or uninterested in serving their country. Rather, it’s a policy failure—a system that fails to prioritize healthcare professionals.

1. Hospitals are short-staffed, yet recruitment is slow or nonexistent.
2. Low wages and harsh working conditions make nursing less attractive.
3. Lack of career advancement opportunities forces nurses to seek greener pastures abroad.

If Nigeria wants to retain its nurses, it must take deliberate action:

• Increase employment opportunities in public and private hospitals.
•  Offer competitive salaries and benefits.
•  Invest in modern healthcare infrastructure.
•  Provide clear career growth paths for nurses.

Can Nigeria Stop the Exodus?

The reality is simple: if nurses can’t find fulfilling jobs at home, they will leave. And unless urgent measures are taken, Nigeria risks a full-blown healthcare crisis where there are too few nurses left to care for its growing population.

The question remains: Will Nigeria act before it’s too late, or will it continue to export its best talent to countries that value them more?

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