, Lagos State chapter, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to raise the retirement age of health){kind=link}
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to raise the retirement age of health professionals from 60 to 65 years, warning of a worsening healthcare crisis driven by the mass exodus of medical professionals.
In a letter dated June 5, 2025, NMA Chairman Dr. Saheed Kehinde and Deputy Secretary Dr. Olusola Soyinka stressed that retaining experienced doctors is essential to addressing the state’s severe doctor shortage. Lagos, with over 30 million residents, reportedly has only about 7,000 doctors, reflecting an alarming doctor-to-patient ratio.
The association referenced President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of the same retirement age extension for federal health workers, calling on Lagos to replicate the policy at the state level. Dr. Kehinde warned that forcing senior doctors to retire or rehire them on short-term contracts devalues their expertise and undermines their dignity.
He added that while Lagos has extended retirement ages for judges and educators, it must do the same for healthcare workers to avoid a system collapse. “Infrastructure can be built, but who will manage it?” he asked, highlighting the ongoing brain drain and calling for meaningful retention strategies.
Kehinde also criticized the government’s push to increase medical school admissions without solving core issues such as poor welfare, high stress, and inadequate facilities. He likened it to “pouring water into a leaking bucket.”
The NMA further raised concerns about the growing number of young doctors left stranded due to limited internship placements. Despite increasing medical school enrolment, few hospitals are accredited to absorb interns. Some graduates have waited over a year to secure placements.
The association urged urgent expansion of internship infrastructure and alignment of Lagos policies with national reforms under the Federal Government’s THEME-PLUS agenda to avert further brain drain and healthcare disruption.