Pastor Poju Oyemade, the founder of The Covenant Nation in Lagos, has sparked reactions online after his recent sermon. He criticized Nigerian doctors who move abroad, calling them ungrateful and saying they don’t work hard enough at home.

In his message, Pastor Poju said that doctors in Nigeria spend only around N500,000 to complete their education, while medical training in the U.S. costs much more. He argued that Nigerians are willing to work several jobs in America but refuse to work hard in their own country.

But the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has responded, saying Pastor Poju’s comments are not accurate.

In their open letter, they explained that it actually costs between $21,000 and $51,000 to train a doctor in Nigeria—far more than the N500,000 Pastor Poju mentioned. This amount includes tuition, food, housing, and other living costs.

They also pointed out that doctors in Nigeria earn very little—about N250,000 per month (around $170). In contrast, doctors in the U.S. earn around $16,000 a month and spend about $275,000 on their education.

NARD said many Nigerian doctors work hard, and even after spending over $10,000 to move abroad and get licensed, they still succeed due to their determination.

They also highlighted the poor state of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Many ordinary Nigerians can’t afford to travel abroad for treatment, but rich pastors with access to tithes and offerings can easily do so. They encouraged Pastor Poju to speak up for better healthcare in the country instead of criticizing those leaving for better opportunities.

In closing, the doctors reminded him of the example set by the Apostles in the Bible—focusing on prayer, teaching, and serving the people with truth.