Generosity or Neglect? Nigerians React to Tinubu Government-Funded Deployment of Doctors and Teachers to Saint Lucia

RYNI Media: By Omotayo Stephen O.
4 July 2025

In a stunning diplomatic overture cloaked in controversy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorized the deployment of Nigerian doctors and teachers to the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia — with the Nigerian government footing the bill for their first two years’ salary.

Channels TV gathered that under this bilateral arrangement, the Nigerian government will fully fund the salaries of the deployed professionals for their first two years of service. The policy, according to the presidency, represents a “strategic export of Nigeria’s human capital” and is aimed at reinforcing international cooperation in education and healthcare.

“We are not just rich in oil; we are rich in talent,” President Tinubu declared during a recent press briefing. “This is Nigeria supporting its allies while showcasing the world-class skills of our professionals.”

But the applause has been far from universal. Healthcare and education workers across Nigeria — many of whom are already grappling with underfunded facilities, delayed salaries, and worsening emigration pressures — have condemned the move as poorly timed and deeply disconnected from the reality on the ground.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) described the initiative as “a diplomatic gift wrapped in domestic neglect.”

“We are hemorrhaging doctors at an alarming rate. Now, we are officially sending more abroad — and paying for it — while our hospitals are gasping for staff,” an NMA spokesperson said.

Likewise, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) expressed concern that the deployment further undermines an already fragile educational system.

“How do we justify this when many teachers here haven’t been paid for months? Our schools are overcrowded, and qualified staff are in short supply,” an NUT official queried.

Public reactions have ranged from bewilderment to outrage. Critics argue that while diplomacy is essential, it must not come at the expense of national wellbeing. Many view the move as a symbolic victory for international relations, but a strategic misstep in terms of domestic priorities.

Saint Lucia, with a population of fewer than 200,000 people, stands to benefit enormously from the influx of Nigerian expertise. But for millions of Nigerians, the lingering question remains: At what cost to our already strained systems?

Although the presidency insists the initiative will “expand Nigeria’s influence and open new global economic doors,” pressure is mounting for a legislative review of the agreement.

As Nigeria battles rising insecurity, decaying public services, and the flight of its best minds, the question continues to divide the nation: Is Nigeria exporting excellence — or outsourcing its own crisis?

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