The 774 National Health Fellows, Cohort 1.0, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to fulfil his promise to employ them into the Federal Civil Service, four months after approval for their absorption was communicated.
The fellows, 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 and obtained by PUNCH Online on Thursday.
In the letter, signed by the association’s Pioneer National President-elect, Joshua Amuofu, and Pioneer National General Secretary-elect, Alao Toheeb, the fellows urged the President to intervene and direct the relevant authorities to complete the employment process.
They recalled that the President’s 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, adding that some had resigned from previous jobs, turned down other opportunities and spent their 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 hope inspired 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 said.
The fellows stressed that they were not asking for a fresh promise but for the implementation of an approval already granted.
”Your Excellency, we are not asking for a new promise, but for the fulfilment of an approval already granted,” they stated.
They appealed to Tinubu to issue an Executive Order or another appropriate presidential directive to the relevant ministries, departments and agencies, including the Federal Civil Service Commission, to speed up the process and ensure appointment letters are issued to all eligible fellows.
The association said the fellows were eager to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s health sector, 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 at the launch of the National Health Fellowship Programme on March 6, 2025.
PUNCH Online had reported in March 2025 that Tinubu, at the event held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, told the participants, “You are hired.”
The fellows were selected from the country’s 774 local government areas as part of a Federal Ministry of Health initiative to strengthen the healthcare system.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, had described them as the best candidates selected from more than 360,000 applicants.