President Bola Tinubu has assured all 774 fellows participating in the newly launched National Health Fellows Programme of automatic employment upon completing their one-year tenure. Speaking at the programme’s launch on Thursday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Tinubu declared, “You are hired,” affirming his commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The National Health Fellows Programme was approved by the President in April 2024 as part of his Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at improving accountability and efficiency in healthcare service delivery. The initiative seeks to enhance primary healthcare by deploying trained fellows across the country’s 774 local government areas. Their work will contribute to strengthening the health sector and ensuring better access to quality medical services at the grassroots level.
Since February 27, 2025, the fellows have been undergoing intensive training under the Sector Wide Approach coordination office. Over the next year, they will monitor and assess Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Nigeria, providing critical oversight to improve service delivery. Their role is expected to bridge gaps in healthcare accessibility and drive meaningful reforms in the sector.
The President’s announcement came in response to a call by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, who urged federal, state, and local governments to integrate the fellows into the workforce. Pate emphasized that their deployment would help advance Nigeria’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage by ensuring that every citizen has access to essential health services.
Tinubu commended the fellows as trailblazers in a transformative phase for primary healthcare. He acknowledged their role in supporting the federal government’s ambitious plan to expand the number of Primary Healthcare Centres from 8,809 to 17,618 by 2027. With this initiative, the administration aims to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure and improve health outcomes nationwide.
