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A policy gap in Nigeria’s public health and civil service structure has come into sharp focus following the issuance of a Federal Government circular approving a 65-year retirement age for selected health professionals—without explicitly accommodating veterinary doctors and veterinary para-professionals, despite longstanding parity between the two sectors.
The development has drawn attention to a sequence of official communications from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, both of which had earlier made formal requests for the inclusion of veterinary professionals under the same retirement framework.
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NVMA Sought Inclusion, Not Confrontation
In a letter dated April 3, 2025, the NVMA formally appealed to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, requesting the inclusion of veterinary doctors and veterinary para-professionals ahead of the newly approved 65-year retirement age for medical doctors and other health workers.
Signed by its officials, the association framed its position as a policy-aligned request rooted in national interest.
“We humbly write to request for the inclusion of Veterinary Doctors and Veterinary Paraprofessionals in the most recently Presidential approved retirement age of 65 years for Medical Doctors and other Health Workers,” the letter stated.
The association had emphasized that the request was necessary to preserve an already limited workforce critical to Nigeria’s disease prevention and response systems.
“The request… will help preserve and maintain the Veterinary workforce, grossly inadequate in the fight against zoonotic diseases,” it noted, referencing ongoing national efforts such as mass vaccination campaigns against anthrax.
One Health Framework at the Core
Central to the NVMA’s argument is Nigeria’s adoption of the global “One Health” framework, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health systems.
According to the association, veterinary doctors play an indispensable role in safeguarding public health, particularly given the epidemiological reality that a majority of infectious diseases originate from animals.
“Veterinary Doctors have become increasingly critical in gatekeeping public health and safety,” the letter stated, adding that “75% of these diseases are of animal origin… with 60% of infectious diseases affecting man being of animal origin.”
The NVMA further highlighted past and ongoing collaborative responses to outbreaks including anthrax, monkeypox, Ebola, Lassa fever, rabies, influenza, and COVID-19, stressing that veterinarians are integral to national emergency response structures.
It also cited joint training initiatives involving veterinary and medical professionals under national epidemiological programmes, reinforcing the operational integration of both professions.
Ministry’s Earlier Position Reinforces Parity
The NVMA’s request aligned with an earlier submission by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, which had formally written to the Head of Service on November 28, 2023, advocating the same position.
In the letter signed by an official, the ministry stressed the strategic importance of retaining veterinary professionals within the public service for longer periods.
“The request is essential to prevent the premature loss of scarce and highly trained veterinary personnel,” the ministry stated.
It further outlined the role of veterinary professionals in managing zoonotic and livestock diseases, noting their contributions to outbreak responses involving Lassa fever, rabies, anthrax, avian influenza, and COVID-19.
Importantly, the ministry anchored its request on an existing government policy framework:
“The Federal Government’s Parity Circular of 8 August 1994 establishes equal salary structures and conditions of service: CONMESS for Medical and Veterinary Doctors; CONHESS for Veterinary Para-Professionals (VPPs) and other human health workers.”
The ministry argued that, given this established parity in remuneration and working conditions, extending the retirement age to veterinary professionals would be consistent and equitable.
“It will substantially strengthen national biosecurity and ensure the uninterrupted availability of scarce technical expertise,” the letter added.
Circular Introduces Narrow Scope
However, the circular issued on December 31, 2025, by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation adopted a more limited application of the policy.
Signed by Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the circular approved the upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years—but specifically for “skilled clinical health professionals in Federal Tertiary Hospitals and Centres.”
The document provided a detailed list of 26 eligible cadres, including medical officers, pharmacists, nurses, radiographers, and physiotherapists, among others. Veterinary doctors and veterinary para-professionals were not listed among the eligible categories.
The circular also clearly defined its scope:
“The new retirement age applies to skilled clinical health professionals… practising in Federal Tertiary Hospitals and Centres.”
In addition, it excluded professionals working in mainstream civil service structures:
“Skilled clinical health professionals serving in the Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments (mainstream Civil Service) are excluded from this policy.”
This delineation effectively places veterinary professionals—who predominantly operate within ministries and livestock-related institutions—outside the purview of the revised retirement framework.
Workforce, Food Security, and Public Health Implications
In its submission, the NVMA drew attention to structural gaps in the veterinary workforce across Nigeria, warning that many states have extremely limited numbers of practicing veterinarians.
“There are states with only 3 Veterinarians and some tending to zero based on imminent retirement,” the association stated, adding that not all of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas have veterinary presence.
The association linked its request to broader national priorities, including food security and public health resilience.
“With the declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security… the role of Veterinarians in securing our over 400 million livestock has become most critical,” it noted.
It also emphasized the importance of retaining experienced professionals to ensure knowledge transfer and continuity in a sector facing increasing complexity due to urbanization and rising human-animal interactions.
Emerging Policy Questions
The situation raises important policy questions regarding alignment between established frameworks and current implementation.
Both the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the NVMA grounded their requests in the Federal Government’s parity policy, which recognizes veterinary and medical professionals under similar salary structures and conditions of service.
However, the current circular adopts a narrower, institution-based classification that does not explicitly reflect that parity in retirement policy.
As stakeholders continue to assess the implications, attention is likely to focus on whether future policy adjustments will harmonize retirement conditions across both sectors in line with existing frameworks and national health priorities.
For now, the issue remains a subject requiring administrative review, with veterinary stakeholders maintaining that their request is not only a matter of professional equity but also one of national health security and system sustainability.
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