Many Nigerians working with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partner organisations have lost their jobs following a 90-day funding suspension by the U.S. government.
The affected workers include employees of USAID-funded organisations, contractors, consultants, vendors, community volunteers, and those engaged in collaborative programmes with state and local governments. The suspension has also impacted both permanent and temporary staff directly employed by USAID.
The job losses stem from an Executive Order signed in January by former U.S. President Donald Trump, halting foreign development assistance for 90 days to review programme efficiency and alignment with American foreign policy. The order froze new aid disbursements and halted ongoing contracts and grants. However, a temporary waiver was later approved for life-saving interventions, including HIV-related services.
While some USAID-funded organisations in Nigeria have ceased operations since January, a few continue to provide limited services under the waivers. Grantees and sub-grantees have also been affected by the job cuts.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, recently revealed that about 28,000 health workers receive salaries through U.S. government support. USAID plays a key role in funding health, food security, trade, governance, gender equality, renewable energy, water resource management, security, and humanitarian efforts in Nigeria, particularly in the North-East.
The agency has significantly contributed to malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, family planning, and maternal and child health programmes, strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and improving access to medical care.
USAID operates in about 120 countries, including Nigeria, with over 10,000 employees globally. Its projects in Nigeria include Data.FI, Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, Chemonics, PEPFAR, and the Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM). Some of its key implementing partners include WaterAid, ActionAID, the U.S. CDC, Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi), and the Population Council.
Job Losses Intensify
Investigations reveal that the layoffs began immediately after the Executive Order was issued, with many health and development programme workers losing their jobs. Over the past few weeks, more employees have been affected as funding cuts continue across various interventions.
USAID, in a notice on its website, confirmed that most of its employees would be placed on leave or dismissed. The agency stated that only core leadership and critical function staff would remain, while 1,600 U.S.-based employees would be laid off under a workforce reduction plan.
Additionally, USAID is working with the U.S. Department of State to manage personnel posted outside the United States, with affected workers receiving direct notifications about their employment status, benefits, and next steps.