Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Association of Resident Doctors has announced a landmark National Policy on the Engagement of Locum, introducing a six-month cap on temporary doctors' contracts and a 48-hour weekly work limit for all healthcare personnel, in a sweeping reform designed to end the casualisation of medical professionals that has driven thousands to abandon public hospitals for foreign shores. The policy, which followed the work of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Committee on Regulation and Casualization of Doctors, was unveiled on Monday, August 17, 2026, and represents the most significant intervention in the regulation of temporary healthcare workers in Nigeria's history.
Under the proposed policy, locum engagement must be based on an identified staffing gap and approved by the appropriate hospital authorities. Initial locum contracts will not exceed six months, with only one additional six-month renewal permitted. Continuous engagement for 12 months will make the position eligible for permanent appointment, a provision that effectively ends the cycle of indefinite temporary placements that have left thousands of doctors without job security, benefits or career progression. The policy also prohibits institutions from using locum engagement as a permanent replacement for substantive recruitment or as a means of exploiting healthcare workers.
The policy comes in response to a growing crisis in Nigeria's health sector, where hospitals have increasingly relied on temporary doctors to fill gaps created by the mass emigration of medical professionals. A 2025 report by Punch revealed that hospitals across Nigeria had resorted to hiring 564 doctors on temporary contracts to sustain operations, with locum appointments becoming semi-permanent for many doctors who were denied permanent employment despite years of service. The Nigerian Medical Association and the National Association of Resident Doctors had repeatedly called for an end to the casualisation of doctors, with the NMA advocating that all doctors in public hospitals be given permanent and pensionable employment after a clearly defined probation period.
On working hours, the policy limits healthcare personnel to a maximum of 48 hours per week, including weekends, while excess hours must be appropriately compensated. It also prohibits healthcare workers from working beyond 24 continuous hours, including call duty, and mandates a minimum of 12 hours between shifts and a 24-hour post-call rest period after both weekday and weekend calls. The policy further provides for a one-hour break after six hours of continuous work. On call duties, healthcare personnel will be limited to a maximum of two calls per week and one weekend call per month, with calls to be distributed equitably.
The policy also provides for standardised remuneration in line with the government's Scheme of Service. Remuneration must be paid monthly without delay, accompanied by monthly payslips. Locum workers will be entitled to government-approved leave, public holidays and occupational insurance coverage. The policy further requires excess working hours to be documented, monitored and adequately compensated or balanced with structured time off. Institutions must provide a safe working environment, adequate call rooms, refreshments during prolonged calls or shifts, and burnout prevention programmes.
On discipline and grievances, the policy states that professional misconduct will be handled in accordance with the relevant regulatory council guidelines. Contracts may be terminated by either party with one month's notice or payment in lieu, while all accrued entitlements must be settled within 14 days of termination. Disputes are to be addressed through institutional mechanisms and may be escalated to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. The policy also mandates the ministry to monitor institutions to ensure compliance and prevent exploitative staffing practices in line with Nigerian labour laws.
The development is a major victory for the National Association of Resident Doctors, which has been at the forefront of the fight against the casualisation of medical professionals. In an update to its members, signed by NARD Publicity Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association said the policy was developed following extensive consultations and was designed to ensure fair, transparent and non-exploitative engagement of temporary healthcare personnel. The association expressed appreciation to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, for the approval, and to the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, for his guidance.
According to NARD, the policy will become legally binding on the date it is approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. It will also undergo a comprehensive review within two years of implementation to ensure its continued relevance. The policy follows a nationwide assessment involving 6,350 healthcare personnel across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, which revealed that excessive working hours, burnout, fatigue, and inadequate rest among healthcare workers were at crisis levels, posing not only a threat to the well-being of doctors but also a significant risk to patient safety.
The new policy represents a paradigm shift in the regulation of temporary healthcare workers in Nigeria. By capping locum contracts at six months, limiting working hours to 48 per week, and providing a pathway to permanent employment, the government has taken a decisive step towards ending the exploitation of medical professionals that has contributed to the country's healthcare crisis. For the thousands of doctors who have been trapped in cycles of temporary contracts without job security or benefits, the policy offers a long-awaited lifeline. And for the patients who depend on their care, it promises a healthcare system that is more stable, more professional, and more committed to the welfare of those who save lives.
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