More than a year after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu publicly told 774 young Nigerians participating in the National Health Fellows Programme that they had been “hired,” the beneficiaries say they are still unemployed despite a subsequent presidential approval directing their immediate absorption into the Federal Civil Service.
The fellows, selected from all 774 local government areas of the country, have appealed directly to the President to intervene in what they describe as an unexplained delay in implementing his directive. They said many of them resigned from existing jobs, declined other employment opportunities and exhausted personal savings while participating in the programme.
Their appeal follows an official communication dated 24 June 2026 from the Office of the President to the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare directing that the fellows be employed under the Presidential Programme on National Health Fellows.
A copy of the letter, signed by the President’s Private Secretary, Damilola Adenimi, indicated that President Tinubu had approved the immediate absorption of the fellows into the Federal Civil Service.
The directive, referenced PRES/36/F/FCSE/3/36/HCSF/80/30/MH/49, was addressed to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
According to the document, the approval followed an earlier request from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, dated 27 May 2026, seeking the employment of the fellows.
Records showed that the letter was received by the Federal Civil Service Commission on 25 June 2026 with instructions that further action be taken to implement the presidential approval.
The fellows also disclosed that they received an official email on the same date informing them that the President had approved their immediate absorption into the Federal Civil Service.
Part of the email stated: “The Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has directed me to inform you that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has today, 25th June 2026, approved your immediate absorption into the Federal Civil Service.”
The message further described the approval as recognition of their dedication and evidence of the President’s confidence in their capacity to contribute to national development and improve public service delivery.
The fellows said the communication also assured them that the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service would subsequently provide details of the transition process and employment modalities.
However, more than one month after receiving the notification, and over 14 months after Tinubu first announced that they had been employed, the fellows said no appointment letters had been issued and no formal process had commenced.
In an open appeal to the President, the fellows recalled that the promise was first made on 6 March 2025 during the official onboarding ceremony of the National Health Fellows Programme held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to them, the President’s public declaration that they were “hired” gave participants confidence that they had secured federal employment and encouraged them to commit fully to the programme.
They said many fellows subsequently resigned from stable employment, rejected alternative job offers, relocated to unfamiliar communities and committed personal resources to implementing health interventions across the country in line with the objectives of the fellowship.
“Our confidence in your promise was strengthened on 25th June 2026 when we received an official communication conveying that Your Excellency had approved the immediate absorption of NHF Cohort 1.0 into the Federal Civil Service,” the fellows stated.
“The message described the approval as a recognition of our dedication and an expression of your confidence in our ability to contribute meaningfully to national development.”
They added that the communication renewed their hope that the long-awaited promise would finally be fulfilled.
“Sadly, despite these assurances, the 774 National Health Fellows are yet to receive appointment letters or commence their service in the Federal Civil Service,” they wrote.
The fellows said the prolonged delay had caused significant financial and emotional hardship for many participants.
According to them, several fellows depleted their savings while carrying out assignments in their communities, while others remain unemployed after leaving previous jobs in anticipation of federal appointments.
“Many fellows exhausted their savings while serving their communities. Some resigned from stable employment because they trusted the promise of their President, while others lost valuable career opportunities they could no longer recover,” they said.
They maintained that despite the frustration, they had remained patient, respectful and hopeful that the presidential directive would eventually be implemented.
The group appealed for President Tinubu’s direct intervention, urging him to issue an executive order or any further presidential directive necessary to compel the immediate implementation of the approval and the release of appointment letters.
They said their request was not for a new approval but for the execution of an approval that had already been granted.
The National Health Fellows Programme was launched to engage young Nigerians in strengthening healthcare delivery, public health innovation and community-based health interventions across the country.
The fellows expressed hope that the government would honour its commitment and allow them to contribute fully to the health sector through formal integration into the Federal Civil Service.
