President Bola Tinubu has announced automatic employment for 774 fellows of the National Health Programme, a flagship initiative aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.
Speaking at the presidential launch of the programme in Abuja, Tinubu addressed the young fellows, who will be monitoring Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across all 774 local government areas, declaring:
“You are hired.”
He assured them that they will secure full employment following their one-year tenure, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“The Coordinating Minister and the champion of this program have requested approval, and luckily the Minister of Finance is here also,” Tinubu stated.
“This programme is designed to expose you to best practices and equip you with the knowledge and skills to transform the sector. Healthcare is a critical pillar of national development. No country can prosper if its people are unhealthy, and unsustainable health programmes are a precise danger. Sustainable development is only possible with a strong healthcare system, and you are the pillars.”
The announcement followed an appeal by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, who urged federal, state, and local governments to integrate the fellows into the workforce to support universal health coverage.
The National Health Fellows Scheme was established to drive innovation and meaningful change within the health sector. The fellows were selected through a merit-based process from over 359,000 applicants, underscoring the high level of competition and talent within the programme.
This initiative forms a key component of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on rebuilding Nigeria’s primary healthcare infrastructure and ensuring that healthcare delivery is more efficient, accessible, and sustainable.
