President Bola Tinubu has approved automatic employment for 774 fellows of the national health programme.
Speaking at the presidential launch of the programme in Abuja, the nation’s capital, Tinubu assured the young fellows—who are tasked with monitoring Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across all 774 local government areas—that they would be employed after their one-year tenure.
“You are hired,” the President declared, emphasizing his commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He further stated, “The Coordinating Minister and the champion of this programme have requested approval, and luckily, the Minister of Finance is here as well. This initiative is designed to expose you to best practices and equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to transform the sector. Healthcare is a critical pillar of national development—no country can prosper if its people are unhealthy. 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, urging federal, state, and local governments to integrate the fellows into the workforce to support universal health coverage.
The national health fellows scheme, a key initiative under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to revitalize Nigeria’s primary healthcare system. Fellows were selected through a merit-based process from over 359,000 applicants, highlighting the programme’s focus on innovation and impactful change in the health sector.