Nigeria Moves to Regulate Temporary Doctors With New Six-Month Contract Framework

Nigeria's healthcare sector is set for tighter regulation of temporary medical staffing under a proposed national policy developed through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's work on the regulation of locum and casualised medical employment.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced the development on Monday, saying the National Policy on the Engagement of Locum is designed to create a clearer framework for recruiting, paying and managing temporary healthcare personnel.

Under the proposed framework, an initial locum contract would not exceed six months, with only one additional six-month renewal permitted. Where a worker has been continuously engaged for 12 months, the position would become eligible for permanent appointment.

New Limits on Working Hours

The proposed policy would also introduce specific limits on how long temporary healthcare personnel can work.

Workers would be limited to a maximum of 48 hours per week, including weekends. They would also not be permitted to work more than 24 consecutive hours, including call duties.

The framework provides for at least 12 hours between shifts and a 24-hour rest period after weekday and weekend calls. Healthcare personnel would also be entitled to a one-hour break after six hours of continuous work.

Call responsibilities would be limited to two calls per week and one weekend call per month, with hospitals expected to distribute duties fairly.

Additional hours would have to be documented and either appropriately compensated or balanced through structured time off.

What the Policy Says About Pay

The proposed framework also seeks to establish clearer remuneration arrangements for locum workers.

Payments would be standardised in line with the government's Scheme of Service, while workers would receive monthly payments and payslips. The policy also provides for government-approved leave, public holidays and occupational insurance coverage.

Hospitals would also be expected to provide a safe working environment, appropriate call rooms and refreshments during prolonged shifts.

The policy specifically discourages institutions from using temporary appointments as a permanent substitute for substantive recruitment or as a way of exploiting healthcare workers.

Why the Changes Matter

The proposed rules come amid longstanding concerns about working conditions, staffing shortages and the welfare of doctors in Nigeria.

NARD has previously raised concerns over outstanding salaries and allowances, medical residency funding and manpower shortages. The association also suspended a planned nationwide industrial action earlier this month following renewed discussions with the Federal Government.

The new locum framework would therefore address another part of the employment structure within the health sector by establishing clearer expectations for hospitals and temporary healthcare personnel.

For hospitals, the rules could mean greater oversight of temporary staffing arrangements. For healthcare workers, the proposed provisions could offer clearer expectations around working hours, remuneration, rest and contract duration.

When Would the Policy Become Binding?

One important distinction is that the framework is not yet being presented as immediately binding law.

According to NARD's announcement, the policy will become legally binding once it receives approval from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The association also said it expects the policy to go through the National Council on Health approval process.

That means hospitals and healthcare workers should distinguish between the policy announced by NARD and a fully implemented national regulatory framework.

The proposed policy is expected to undergo a comprehensive review within two years of implementation, allowing authorities to assess its effectiveness and make adjustments where necessary.

What Happens Next

The next stage will be the formal approval and implementation process involving the relevant government health authorities.

If approved, the framework could change how hospitals recruit and retain temporary healthcare personnel, while also introducing nationally defined expectations around working hours, rest periods and remuneration.

For Nigerian doctors and healthcare institutions, the policy could represent a significant shift toward more structured locum employment — but its full effect will depend on final approval and implementation.

Sources

• Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) — National Policy on the Engagement of Locum and related professional communications.

• Sahara Reporters — report on the proposed six-month locum contract limit and welfare provisions.

• Nairametrics — report on the proposed 48-hour weekly work limit and other provisions.

• TheCable — report on NARD's suspension of planned nationwide industrial action.

• Channels Television — background on NARD's negotiations with the Federal Government.