June 1, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | National News
Fresh controversy has emerged over President Bola Tinubu’s promise of automatic employment for the 774 National Health Fellows, following revelations that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has no official record of their recruitment process.
The development has sparked outrage among the affected health professionals, many of whom say they have been left stranded months after completing their national assignments under the Federal Government’s flagship healthcare initiative.
According to information obtained from the Office of the Head of Service, there is currently no formal documentation regarding the employment process of the fellows despite earlier assurances that they would be absorbed into the Federal Civil Service.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that while the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare reportedly contacted the Head of Service by telephone, no official written communication or recruitment files have been forwarded as required under civil service procedures.
The revelation comes more than two weeks after the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) reportedly wrote to the Ministry of Health, urging it to expedite the recruitment process.
Representatives of the affected fellows who visited the Office of the Head of Service on Monday were reportedly informed that no official recruitment records had been received from the ministry.
Frustrated by the delay, the fellows are now planning further engagements with senior government officials in a bid to secure clarification on their employment status.
Several fellows told journalists that they have remained in professional uncertainty since completing their assignments in February 2026.
According to them, many private employers have been reluctant to offer them jobs because of the widely publicised announcement that they had already been employed by the Federal Government.
One affected fellow described the situation as emotionally exhausting, stating that many participants turned down lucrative opportunities and relocated to underserved communities based on the expectation that the presidential promise would be fulfilled.
The National Health Fellows Programme was launched as a strategic initiative to strengthen healthcare delivery across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The programme attracted more than 360,000 applicants nationwide, with only 774 candidates eventually selected through a highly competitive process.
During the inauguration of the programme at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on March 6, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu publicly assured the fellows of automatic employment, declaring, “You are hired.”
The fellows successfully completed their one-year assignments in February 2026 and have since been awaiting formal appointment letters.
The latest development has raised fresh questions about the implementation of the government’s commitment and the status of the recruitment process.
As concerns continue to mount, the affected healthcare professionals are calling on the Federal Government to provide clarity and urgently fulfil the employment promise made to them.
Source: Sahara Reporters
Reported by SUNTV Global Channel National Desk
