The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has declared that a series of targeted reforms are successfully rebuilding confidence in Nigeria’s health system while directly addressing the deep-seated grievances of health workers that have festered for decades.
In a detailed broadcast on his verified X handle, @muhammadpate, the minister provided a candid reflection on the sector’s historical challenges and a substantive report on the progress made in the last two and a half years under the Tinubu administration.
Acknowledging a Legacy of Neglect
Pate began by acknowledging the foundational issue: years of systemic underinvestment and poor policy implementation. He noted that health professionals have long served under extraordinarily difficult conditions with limited recognition or support. Successive governments, he admitted, failed to create an enabling environment for the sector’s best talents to thrive, leading to brain drain, widespread dissatisfaction, and frequent industrial unrest.
“This legacy of unmet commitments,” Pate explained, “created a cycle of distrust between health workers—including major bodies like the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM)—and the government.” This historical context is crucial for understanding why the current reforms are both urgent and significant.
A New Approach: Constructive Engagement and Tangible Actions
Breaking from the past, the administration adopted a strategy of “constructive engagement and transparent negotiation.” Pate emphasized that while not every inherited problem is fully resolved, “unprecedented progress” has been achieved by directly tackling both legacy and current issues.
The minister outlined specific, concrete outcomes that are materially improving the conditions for health workers:
Extended Service & Settled Arrears: The retirement age for clinically skilled personnel has been increased from 60 to 65 years, helping to retain experienced hands. Outstanding salary arrears from 2023 onward have been cleared.
Financial Investments: A new hazard allowance is being processed, recognizing the immense risks health workers face. Furthermore, over N10 billion in arrears owed under the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund has been fully settled, a critical move for specialist training.
Salary Structure Reform: Long-standing demands for salary relativity adjustments under the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) are being “assured and institutionalised,” moving towards fairer compensation.
Structured Dialogue: A Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process, convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is actively negotiating other demands with union leadership. Pate reported that over 90% of union demands have already been met.
The Impact: Restoring Public Trust and Reversing Medical Tourism
The most compelling evidence of the reforms’ success, according to Pate, lies in the tangible data on system utilization and public perception.
Surge in Domestic Care: Hospital visits across all levels of care skyrocketed from an average of 10 million in Q2 2024 to nearly 40 million in Q2 2025—a fourfold increase in a single year. This suggests a significant return of public confidence in domestic health facilities.
Reversing Medical Tourism: Perhaps one of the most telling indicators is the 52% reduction in foreign exchange accessed for treatment abroad since 2023, as reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Pate added that Nigerian health facilities are now seeing increased patronage by foreigners, signaling a gradual reversal of the medical tourism trend.
Rising Public Confidence: Citizen perception surveys (2023-2025) show marked improvements:
– 55% overall confidence in the health system.
– 67% confidence in the government’s ability to manage health emergencies.
– 74% patient satisfaction rate.
Conclusion: Healing a Fractured Ecosystem
Pate concluded by framing the health sector reforms as a microcosm of national renewal. “We are healing a once-fractured ecosystem,” he stated. By placing citizens and the health workforce at the center of policy, the administration is demonstrating a capacity to “turn crisis into opportunity, transform liabilities into assets.”
The minister acknowledged that “a small segment” of health workers had caused recent disruptions, but stressed that the “overwhelming majority” continue to serve with dedication. The data suggests that by addressing core grievances through dialogue and tangible action, the foundation for sustainable industrial harmony and a stronger, more trusted health system is being firmly laid.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng) Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Funmilayo Adeyemi
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