Table 3 Physicians’ self-reported concerns regarding professional practice in Nigeria

Nepotism, bad leadership and poor regulation of medical practice in Nigeria

 • A profound reason is that one has to know those in political position to get a job; there is no standardized procedure on getting a job after graduation

 • Lack of honesty and transparency in the Nigerian health system; jobs are given most times to those with connections while others are unemployed or employed as locum staff with the same job description and paltry pay

 • Nepotism, favouritism and selfishness that has become the order of the day in most organizations in Nigeria

 • Lack of political will to address the problems facing health sector in Nigeria

 • There is no sincerity on the part of the leaders to make things better

 • Poor regulation of medical practice by Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)

 • Difficulty in getting placement for residency training

 • Insincerity and gross failure of the government

 • Uncertainty about future of both undergraduate and post graduate medical training

 • Failure of implementation of regulations and extant laws guiding medical profession

Poor relationship within the medical profession and interdisciplinary rivalries in the health sector

 • Hostile work environment with bad attitude of medical elders to junior doctors

 • Lack of mentorship in the medical profession

 • Injustice in the medical profession and the country

 • Lack of job satisfactions and professional growth stagnation by those who are supposed to guide and encourage young ones in the profession

 • Nigeria Medical Association’s poor welfare concern for her members

 • Toxic work environment, work place bullying and harassment

 • Very poor and unconducive working environment

 • Lack of motivation and poor supervision from unmotivated superiors

 • Antagonism of other health care workers

Lack of job satisfaction with bad economic situation

 • High poverty level in Nigeria with no working system, economy, or any hope for the future

 • Economic instability in Nigeria and uncertainty about the future of the country

 • Lack of employment for consultants in public hospital and university

 • Need for a better working system

 • Dislike for current job

Desire for improved welfare of the family including living condition, child education and health

 • Nigeria is becoming a failed state with no guaranteed future for my children

 • Access to quality health care delivery for my family

 • Better education and environment for my children

 • Better life for my family

 • Securing my children’s future

 • Better opportunities for my children

 • Family’s unity because my spouse is relocating