The 58 Nigerian doctors stopped at the Lagos airport by the Nigeria Immigration Service from migrating to the United Kingdom were expected to earn as much as N41 million naira annually.
Depending on their experiences, a UK-based health personnel outsourcing firm, NES Healthcare, offered them packages from £51,384 (N25.1m) and £98,112 (N47.9m), as well as special allowances and free daily meals.
TheLagosToday observed that the NES Healthcare advertorial said, “Are you a doctor with ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and anaesthesia experience, looking for a better work/life balance? At NES Healthcare we can offer you this with one of our ICU RMO positions.
“You will be working in a private Hospital group, and we have various locations around the UK. The rotation is one week on duty then one week off + accommodation and meals are provided free of charge during your on duty week.
“To apply you will need a minimum of three years post-graduate experience and have 18+ months of ICU and Anaesthesia experience. Salary is from £51,384 to £98,112 dependent on experience. Contract is for a minimum of one year. You will need to hold full GMC Registration with a licence to practice, or be eligible to apply.”.
The firm claims it seeks to reduce the shortage of doctors in the United Kingdom.
Nearly a thousand Nigerian doctors had applied for the jobs advertised by NES Health Care from January till date. Many of them had also been offered employment in the UK and had processed their necessary documents through the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and obtained security clearance from the Nigeria Police Force attesting to the fact that they had no criminal record.
However, the last step to their emigration which was obtaining a UK visa, was not achieved because the UK High Commission in Nigeria had remained closed since April due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
