MRTB Announces Waiver of 2026 License Renewal Fines for Diaspora Practitioners, Introduces “Suspended Registration” Category

Abuja, 8 September 2026 · Office of the Registrar/CEO, MRTB

The Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria (MRTB) has announced a set of new policy measures aimed at easing the licensure and registration burden on Nigerian Medical Rehabilitation Professionals practising outside the country.

In a memorandum signed by Management and issued from the Office of the Registrar/CEO on 8 September 2026, the Board confirmed that the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has graciously approved three resolutions, all of which take effect immediately. The approvals fall under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and are being implemented by the Board under the Registrar/CEO, Prof. Rufai Yusuf Ahmad.

Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare

Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako
Hon. Minister of State — Approving Authority

Prof. Rufai Yusuf Ahmad
Registrar/CEO, MRTB

What has been approved

1. Waiver of fines and backlog fees on 2026 license renewal

Medical Rehabilitation Professionals currently based abroad may now renew their 2026 Nigerian practising license without paying any fines or backlog of license fees for the period spent practising outside Nigeria.

To qualify for the waiver, applicants are required to present:

• Valid evidence of active practice abroad; and
• A current, valid practising license issued by the regulatory authority of the host country.

The Board has clarified that this waiver applies only to the period of practice outside Nigeria.

2. Introduction of the “Suspended Registration” category

To accommodate professionals who intend to travel abroad for practice, MRTB has introduced a new “Suspended Registration” category. Under this arrangement, professionals relocating abroad may wish to officially suspend their local registration before or upon departure.

Practitioners who utilise this category will be eligible to renew their Nigerian licenses upon their return without paying fines and backlogs of license fees, subject to the presentation of evidence of practice abroad and the practising license of the country of practice.

3. “Absconded Registrant” category

The Board has also formalised an “Absconded Registrant” classification. Any Medical Rehabilitation Professional who travels abroad for practice and fails to formally suspend their registration with the Board will be classified as an Absconded Registrant.

Practitioners in this category will be required to pay all accumulated backlogs and default fines upon their return or when seeking to renew their Nigerian license.

Why this matters

Taken together, the three measures create a clearer, more equitable framework for the diaspora arm of Nigeria’s Medical Rehabilitation workforce:

• The waiver relieves currently diasporan practitioners of accrued renewal penalties tied to periods when they were verifiably practising abroad.
• The Suspended Registration category gives outbound professionals a formal, protective status — a way to remain in good standing with the Board without incurring penalties during their time abroad.
• The Absconded Registrant classification protects the integrity of the register and ensures that professionals who bypass the formal suspension route remain accountable for accumulated obligations.

The measures signal the Board’s continued responsiveness to the realities of an increasingly mobile rehabilitation workforce, while preserving the regulatory discipline that underpins the profession in Nigeria.

How to apply

Professionals who are eligible and wish to renew their 2026 licenses under the new approval, or who wish to apply for Suspended Registration status before travelling abroad, are asked to contact the Registration Department of the Board:

• Email: registration@mrtb.gov.ng

About MRTB

The Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria is the federal regulatory body responsible for the registration, licensing, and professional conduct of Medical Rehabilitation Professionals in Nigeria — including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, and allied medical rehabilitation practitioners under its schedule.

Source: Office of the Registrar/CEO, MRTB — Memorandum dated 8 September 2026, “Approval of Waiver on License Renewal Backlogs/Fines and Introduction of New Registration Category for Diaspora Practitioners.” Signed by Management.