Outrage as 25-year-old corps member doctor dies following alleged denial of sick leave
The tragic and untimely death of Wisdom Oghenetega Enakirerhi, a 25-year-old medical doctor serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has ignited heavy backlash across Nigerian social media spaces, fueling intense scrutiny over the welfare and working conditions of young professionals within the scheme.
The promising young physician reportedly passed away shortly after his repeated administrative requests for a three-week medical leave were allegedly turned down or severely delayed by his primary assignment supervisors, despite his rapidly declining health.
Aggressive medical advocacy met with institutional silence
The harrowing details of the incident first gained widespread public attention after being shared online by a medical practitioner, Dr. Akpoyibo.
According to reports, the tragedy is compounded by the fact that Enakirerhi came from a family of medical professionals who actively recognised the gravity of his clinical state and repeatedly intervened to save his life.
“A 25-year-old medical doctor who spent seven years in medical school, completed a one-year internship, and was serving in the NYSC was sick, asked for permission for a good three weeks’ leave, but he was not granted permission, and now he is dead,” Dr. Akpoyibo stated in a viral post.
He further revealed that the deceased’s father and brother, who are both practising medical doctors, made urgent direct appeals to the authorities overseeing his primary assignment, begging for him to be released to return home for immediate, comprehensive medical care. These frantic pleas were allegedly met with bureaucratic resistance.
Delayed release sparks fierce calls for investigation
While accounts indicate that administrative clearance was eventually granted to allow the young doctor to return home, public observers note that the approval came far too late. Enakirerhi was reportedly permitted to leave only a few days before he succumbed to his illness.
The incident has triggered widespread anger and profound sympathy across various digital platforms, with prominent voices in the Nigerian medical community demanding full systemic accountability.
Critics are pointing out a persistent, punitive culture within certain public institutions where the health complaints of junior doctors, interns, and corps members are routinely dismissed or treated with suspicion.
Medical unions and civil advocacy groups are being urged to launch a comprehensive investigation into the exact administrative timeline and circumstances surrounding the alleged leave denial.
Many argue that without severe institutional consequences for those who block essential medical care, the safety of young professionals deployed across the country under the mandatory NYSC scheme remains deeply compromised.
Read Also: Nigerian man dies alone in Canada after wife allegedly abandoned him following cancer diagnosis
