The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said it has not endorsed any faction of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO).

Rather, the ministry maintained that it is open to working with reputable and experienced private organisations to develop a framework that would ensure ethical migration of Nigerian health workers for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and the migrating health workers.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, who stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, added that the Ministry is guided by the core value of working for the best interest of Nigerian health workers including those in diaspora without interfering with internal affairs of the organisations such health workers might belong.

Salako, in a statement by the Deputy Director/Head, Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Alaba Balogun, stressed that government would keep upholding plans and strategy to improve the Nigerian health sector by harnessing all material and human resources including those provided by Nigerians in Diaspora.

“It has come to the attention of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that a faction of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Europe, is circulating the video of a meeting with the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, as proof of endorsement by the ministry.

“The Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare wishes to state categorically that this is not correct.

“Nurses Across Borders (NAB), an NGO group of nurses in diaspora, who has been partnering with the Diaspora unit of the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare reached out to the Ministry, following the development of Migration policy and implementation plan.

“They brought some foreign partners to showcase how they plan to assist in managing migration for Nigerian healthcare workers as done in some countries in the Middle East and Philippines.

“In the course of presentation to the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Nurses across Borders representatives came with some Nigerians in diaspora including some individuals who introduced themselves as representing NIDO Europe, expressing interest to partner with NAB in developing a mechanism for ethical migration of Nigerian health workers.

“To this end, the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare wishes to re-affirm that it will consider working with reputable and experienced private organizations to develop a framework that will ensure ethical migration of Nigerian health workers for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and the migrating health workers.

“Furthermore, the Ministry is guided by the core value of working for the best interest of Nigerian health workers including those in diaspora without interfering with internal affairs of the organisations such health workers might belong.

“We will keep upholding plans and strategy to improve the Nigerian health sector by harnessing all material and human resources including those provided by Nigerians in Diaspora.

‘This Release is issued for information purposes and to correct any misrepresentation being circulated in the media,” the statement read.