As the Nigerian Medical Association’s (NMA) 21-day ultimatum to the federal government draws to a close this Wednesday, the country faces the spectre of yet another doctors’ strike, one that could cripple an already fragile healthcare system.
The warning comes amid a breakdown in trust between federal government and medical professionals over revised allowances and longstanding wage arrears.
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EKO HOT BLOG gathered that at the centre of the dispute is a circular issued on July 1 by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) unilaterally revising the allowances of medical and dental officers in federal service. The NMA argues that the move violates previous collective bargaining agreements from 2001, 2009, and 2014.
“These allowances are a product of a percentage of the basic salary. However, this was not applied,” NMA President Dr. Bala Audu said on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television.
The association also faults the process, alleging that the circular was released without consulting the Ministry of Health or negotiating with key stakeholders.
“There were no inputs or dialogues with us… so that if there were any issues to negotiate, we could have mutually negotiated them,” Audu said.
Among the most contentious outcomes of the circular is the reduction of allowances for senior consultants, many of whom are already leaving the country in what has become a full-blown brain drain.
High stakes for healthcare delivery
The NMA’s grievances go beyond procedural oversight.
The association is also demanding the immediate payment of 18 months of salary arrears, entitlements that President Bola Tinubu has reportedly approved but which have yet to be disbursed.
“We wonder who along the line is refusing to implement,” Audu said.
If unmet, these demands could result in a strike that would shut down federal hospitals, emergency units, and specialist clinics across the country.
The consequences could be dire. In a country where public health infrastructure is overstretched and often under-resourced, any disruption in service delivery puts lives at immediate risk, especially for the poor who rely solely on government facilities.
A window for dialogue still open
Despite the tension, there appears to be a sliver of hope for de-escalation.
While the NMA has not received a formal invitation for talks from the Federal Ministry of Health, the association has held direct discussions with the Minister of State for Health.
“The engagement was mutually respectful, beneficial, and it points to a direction that we are likely to have solutions before the end of the ultimatum,” Audu said.
For now, the ball is in the federal government’s court. The NMA insists it does not wish to see a nationwide shutdown of healthcare services. But without concrete action to address their concerns, the risk of mass disruption looms large.
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“We risk the whole healthcare system of this country being shut down,” Audu warned, “which the Nigerian Medical Association does not in any way want to see happen.”
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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