The Federal Government has announced the start of a new mass recruitment exercise for National Health Fellows, expanding the programme after successfully deploying 774 fellows earlier in the year to Primary Health Centres across the country. The update marks a major step in the government’s plan to strengthen primary healthcare delivery, improve transparency and support new infrastructure projects in communities.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the expansion is driven by the visible progress made so far. He explained that the fellows have played an important role in improving accountability in health facilities and supporting the government’s wider health sector reforms. According to him, their work has already started contributing to better service delivery in local communities and boosting confidence in public health systems.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier confirmed automatic employment for the first set of fellows when the programme was launched in March. Speaking at the launch event at the State House Conference Centre, he told the participants, “You are hired,” showing the administration’s commitment to creating new opportunities for young people and improving healthcare access nationwide.
Pate, in a message shared on his X handle on Monday, said, “Earlier this year, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we launched the National Health Fellows Program NHFP, a bold step towards building the next generation of healthcare leaders in Nigeria.”
He noted that more than 360,000 people applied for the first round, with only 774 young Nigerians selected to serve across all Local Government Areas.
He announced that applications for the second cohort will open on 1 November 2025 and close on 30 November. He encouraged young Nigerians from different fields to apply, adding, “For details of the application process, visit healthfellows.ng.”
During the launch of the first cohort, Pate explained that the fellows are expected to reinforce accountability in PHCs and act as oversight officers for the planned construction of 8,800 new primary healthcare facilities across the country. Their role, he said, “Is crucial in ensuring the fiduciary integrity and operational excellence of each facility within their domains of responsibility.”
He added that there will be a state-level multi-screening exercise in every Local Government Area to select the next group of fellows. Successful applicants will help monitor the new healthcare projects, which aim to raise the total number of PHCs to 17,618 by 2027. The programme also supports the government’s goal of reducing unemployment while improving essential health services.
Since 2023, the government has disbursed more than ₦100 billion to PHCs nationwide under the revitalised Basic Health Care Provision Fund. This includes ₦50 billion released in the first quarter of 2025 and ₦32.9 billion approved in October 2025 for infrastructure, essential medicines and operations.
Describing the initiative, Pate said, “This is a Nigerian renaissance in full motion and in real time,” urging qualified Nigerians to apply once the portal opens.
