Whenever the issue of labour is raised, man who is central and pivotal aspect of it, cannot be avoided. The part man plays in labour relations can never be adequately and sufficiently over-stressed. From time immemorial, man has always been making movement from one location to another, in search of greener pastures. In modern time, due to institutionalization of division of labour and specialization, which clearly marked or expressed the transition from communal to individualistic and complex society. Although this movement is popularly known by many registers as 'mobility of labour', but I chose to call it 'labour migration', for the purpose of clarity and emphasis, in regards to this controversial and contentious subject. In the past, this phenomenon was primarily triggered by climatic condition and insecurity, a typical example of it today in Nigeria, is the 'marauding herders' who perennially ravage the North Central part of the country, especially Benue, Kogi, Plateau and Nassarawa states, in search of greener pastures. Modernity has necessitated other factors including pay packages/remuneration, social amenities/infrastructure, etc.
Obviously, modernity has really transformed the labour sector in a way that has witnessed notable structural changes and a different kind of labour relations. The controversy about brain drain and labour migration (mobility of labour), is one which requires serious and critical examination, in order to widen understanding, by pointing out the advantages and disadvantages, which will help both individuals and the country in decision making process. Having given the subject a clear and vivid background, it is pertinent to express that brain -drain is a state-related concept; meaning that the concept is mostly concerned with or affected the state or country, in relation to her citizens. It is also concerned with population and national planning of a country.
Brain drain connotes the movement of highly skilled work force or labour from one country to another. According to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary in researchgate.net, it refers to "The movement of highly skilled and qualified people to a country where they can work in better conditions and earn more money". The implication of this social phenomenon is that it depletes human capital/human resource based of a country, resulting in inefficient and low productive forces (PF) as well as low national productivity of a country's economy, hence the reason the Nigerian Government view it as a barrier to national development. This is thought by many to be one of the factors of underdevelopment in the country, because of the mass movement or exodus of skilled and highly skilled workers (professionals). The government have made attempt to discourage this phenomenon, including the institution of legal frameworks such as the Revised National Migration Policy 2025, introduction of Mandatory Service Period, basically for health professionals, which requires them to work in Nigeria for up to five years after graduation, before issuance of a full practicing license.
The matter has continued to raise serious debate because of the stand point of many citizens in relation to the poor state of the country, especially health workers citing human rights related issue. In view of the above, The result of a recent online survey conducted by Phillips Consulting Limited, in researchgate.net reveals that, "between 24th of August and 3rd of September, 2022 shows that overall, (52%) of Nigerian Professionals plan to quit and migrate", described in our local parlance as 'Japa'.
On several fora, the government and we'll meaning Nigerians have continuously decried or spoken against it, yet the alarming rate of brain drain lately has been worrisome. On the other hand, the highly skilled work force or population have not heeded to this warning and advice, regarding the perceived adverse effects on the economy of Nigeria. They continue to migrate in great number at slightest opportunity, citing better working conditions, better economy, infrastructure and security, as reasons for their actions. How can Nigeria keep them when it is unable to provide the listed items above to her citizens? It is unarguably bedeviled by complex systemic, structural and cultural challenges, and efforts to provide remedies have proved abortive.
Repudiating the government' stance on the issue, like the cuban education strategy with about 98% literate population, exporting best brains around the world, especially in the medical field, should Nigeria not considering following that foot-steps, being the 7th most populous country and the most populous black country on earth? With alarming rate of unemployment, if the government think that labour migration is brain drain, why not explore and tap from the teeming undeveloped human resource based of Nigeria, through the population strategy' or 'population-education strategy', for excess development of human capita or highly skilled professionals, that will adequately feed the economy, while strategically permitting brain drain. If this approach is adopted, it means priority will be placed on education, and the immediate resultant effects would be having a highly literate society, while sustainable development would be the remote resultant effects. The government can harness the opportunity by looking at it from the positive angle, in terns of the economic benefits the country will derive.
Population-education strategy can be defined as the exploitation and exploration of vast and teeming population to develop a highly literate and a highly skilled work force in the society. If Nigeria can key into this blueprint, given her abundant human resources, it can be a reliable short cut to its development drive. The surplus fraction of the highly skilled population, can be exported across the world, to where they are most needed, for the benefit of the country, including system/cultural diffusion, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), technology/knowledge transfer, balance of payment, average income per head/standard of living, etc.
In conclusion, if the government of Nigeria is seriously challenged by this lofty idea, the need to complain about brain drain will no longer exist, given the vast population advantage. Therefore, education across all levels should be granted serious attention by government and all the relevant stakeholders, starting with the consideration for the 26% UN's recommendation for education, on the annual budget in order to raise standard of education. On the whole, the government should understand that labour has a market, determined by its related forces, which it can only trade and compete favourably, not necessarily being the sole determinant of the market. Moreover, it will be insincerity and a great disservice for government to digress from unemployment, which should be top most priority, because of it's alarming rate, to focusing on labour migration, which it describes as 'brain drain'.
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