President, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), Prof. Anthony Ikefuna, has called on the Federal Government to establish an immediate workforce replacement policy for doctors emigrating and to subsidise specialist examinations to save the nation’s postgraduate medical system from collapse.

Ikefuna made the call yesterday at the college auditorium during NPMCN’s 44th convocation ceremony in Ijanikin, Lagos

Ikefuna warned that the steady exodus of resident doctors to other countries for better practice and remuneration had left the remaining trainees severely overworked, driving widespread burnout and compromising the quality of mentorship across hospitals.

Highlighting the financial toll of administering specialist qualifications amid rising inflation, Ikefuna revealed that candidate examination fees no longer cover the soaring costs of logistics, IT support, and examiner allowances, leaving the college with a deficit after recent examination cycles.

With new Federal Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) rates taking effect on October 1, 2026, Ikefuna requested direct Federal Government intervention to subsidise national examinations, while urging health authorities to automatically replace doctors who emigrate to relieve the strain on front-line personnel.

Adding to the call for systemic reform, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr John Oladapo Obafunwa, delivered the convocation lecture emphasising a deficit in clinician-researchers.

Obafunwa, a forensic pathologist and law graduate, disclosed that of NIMR’s 278 staff, only 59 are research fellows, and only five hold medical fellowships from postgraduate colleges.

Responding to the warnings raised by the college leadership, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who was represented by the Director, Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Abisola Adegoke, assured attendees that the Federal Government was actively working to resolve these institutional hurdles.

Pate commended NPMCN’s executive management and urged the newly certified specialists to maintain high ethical standards, continuous professional development, and dedication to public service as they enter the workforce.