774 National Health Fellows Appeal to Tinubu Over Delayed Employment

The 774 National Health Fellows of Cohort 1.0 have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to fulfil his promise to absorb them into the Federal Civil Service, four months after approval for their employment was reportedly communicated.

The fellows, operating under the National Health Fellows Alumni Association of Nigeria, made the appeal in a letter dated October 29, 2026, addressed to Tinubu through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The letter, obtained by PUNCH Online on Thursday, was signed by the association’s Pioneer National President-elect, Joshua Amuofu, and Pioneer National General Secretary-elect, Alao Toheeb.

In the correspondence, the fellows urged the President to intervene and direct relevant government authorities to complete the employment process.

They recalled that approval for their immediate absorption into the Federal Civil Service was formally communicated in June 2026. However, they said they were yet to receive appointment letters or be formally employed.

“Four months after that directive, we are yet to be engaged or offered employment, while the process continues to be delayed by administrative explanations and unresolved procedures,” the letter stated.

The fellows said the delay had affected their livelihoods, families and professional aspirations, explaining that some members had resigned from previous jobs, declined other opportunities and spent personal resources in anticipation of the promised employment.

“Some resigned from previous employment, declined other opportunities, and invested their personal resources in good faith, believing in the promise of a better future through public service,” they said.

They added that the prolonged uncertainty had increased frustration among members, warning that the optimism generated by the President’s promise was gradually turning into disappointment.

“Our Renewed Hope, which your leadership inspired and which your approval further strengthened, is now being toyed with by the continued delay in implementing the very decision that gave us reason to look forward to a better future,” the association stated.

The fellows stressed that they were not seeking a fresh employment promise but wanted the implementation of an approval they said had already been granted.

“Your Excellency, we are not asking for a new promise, but for the fulfilment of an approval already granted,” they added.

They appealed to Tinubu to issue an Executive Order or another appropriate presidential directive to relevant ministries, departments and agencies, including the Federal Civil Service Commission, to accelerate the process and ensure that appointment letters were issued to all eligible fellows.

The association said its members remained willing to contribute to Nigeria’s healthcare development, support their families and serve the country through the Federal Civil Service.

The appeal comes about 20 months after Tinubu announced the automatic employment of the fellows during the launch of the National Health Fellowship Programme on March 6, 2025.

At the event, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, the President reportedly told participants, “You are hired.”

The fellows were selected from Nigeria’s 774 local government areas as part of a Federal Ministry of Health initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, had described them as the best candidates selected from more than 360,000 applicants.