Fact-checking Claims About ASUU, Doctor’s Strike and Health Sector in Nigeria
On April 23, 2025, an X user, @abdullahayofel made several claims about the current state of Nigeria's education and healthcare sectors under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The post which contained a video of a man recounting his experience at a hospital was captioned “Since President Tinubu assumed office, ASUU hasn't gone on strike, Doctors haven't gone on strike either, and the trend of doctors leaving the country has significantly reduced. Tinubu gain Rt [sic]”
As of the time this report was published, the post had 63,300 views and over 1,500 likes, retweets and quotes. In the comment section, @ogbuofiastanley wrote “U, anything Tinubu does is right, even if he shit in your mouth. Your own don go be that @abdullahayofel” @EzeAyoka said “If you know how much it now cost for Doctor to pay for their UK or US exams ehh, you will delete this nonsense”.
VERIFICATIONS
CLAIM 1: ASUU Has Not Gone On Strike Since Tinubu Assumed Office
VERIFICATION
The last and most recent Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike action was in 2022. The industrial action began on February 14, 2022, and ended on October 17, 2022, lasting for approximately eight months. The 2022 strike was the longest in the union’s history, with its primary demands being improved funding for universities, increased salaries for lecturers, and better working conditions.
VERDICT
The claim that ASUU has not gone on strike since President Bola Tinubu was sworn into office is TRUE. Since the beginning of his administration in May 2023, ASUU has not embarked on any industrial action. However, the government and the Union continue to have back and forth on their demands for improved working conditions for members of the Union.
CLAIM 2: Doctors Have Not Gone On Strike Since Tinubu Assumed Office
VERIFICATION
On July 25, 2023, just about two months after President Bola Tinubu was sworn into office, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, declared an indefinite strike action, demanding the Federal Government to make some policy changes. Their demands include the discontinuation of the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges, the immediate payment of all salary arrears, implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, new hazard allowance, and domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, among others.
Also on August 26, 2024. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors embarked on another 7 day nationwide warning strike. This was over the abduction of Dr. Ganiyat Poopola, a member of the organization. However, while decrying the inaction of the government on the demand for her release, the Union called off the strike action on September 2, 2024.
VERDICT
The claim that doctors have not embarked on strike since the inauguration of President Tinubu’s administration is MISLEADING, as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has embarked on two industrial strike actions during this period.
CLAIM 3: The Trend of Doctors Leaving The Country Has Significantly Reduced
VERIFICATION
Nigeria continues to experience a significant brain drain in its medical sector, with thousands of doctors emigrating for better opportunities abroad. The data obtained from The Federal Ministry of Health revealed that 14,138 medical doctors left the country between 2018 and 2024 though the data for 2023 is missing.
Source: WikkiTimes
According to government reports available as of March 2024, the country now has only 55,000 licensed doctors available to serve its growing population of over 200 million people. The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, revealed this during an interview and also noted that about 16,000 doctors left the country in the last five years.
According to the President of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Dele Abdullahi, over 900 doctors migrated to Europe in 2023 alone, while 1,417 expressed interest in relocating to the United Kingdom and the United States.
Meanwhile, President of the Association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), Dr Rahman Olayinka, attributed this migration trend to the poor working conditions, inadequate medical facilities, and widespread insecurity in the country
To curb the mass emigration of doctors leaving the country, President Tinubu took a crucial step by signing the new National Policy on Health Workforce Migration on August 12, 2024. This policy is aimed at managing health workforce migration and addressing the fundamental problems of the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals in Nigeria, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The policy introduces targeted incentives for health-care workers, especially those in rural areas and those setting up private facilities. It includes special programmes, improved medical supplies, mortgages for facilities, tax breaks, and regular salary reviews. The policy also aims to enhance training by expanding institutions, fostering international collaboration, and funding postgraduate education. The policy supports a one facility per ward initiative and includes measures for worker safety and wellbeing, with ongoing monitoring to track migration patterns and inform adjustments.
VERDICT
The claim that the trend of doctors leaving the country has significantly reduced is MISLEADING. Findings show that there is still a high number of migrating doctors and it poses a serious challenge to Nigeria’s healthcare system. The country continues to feel the negative impacts of brain drain of health workers on healthcare delivery, despite the enactment of the new National Policy on health workforce migration.
CONCLUSION
Out of three claims, the claim that ASUU has not embarked on a strike since President Tinubu took office is TRUE, However, the claims that doctors have not gone on strike and the trend of doctors leaving the country has reduced significantly during the administration of President Tinubu is LARGELY MISLEADING.
