Southwest doctors issue 21-day strike notice over poor allowances and worsening welfare conditions.
NMA leaders say new circular ignores CBAs, threatens morale, and fuels ongoing medical brain drain.
Doctors in Nigeria’s Southwest region have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the withdrawal of a controversial circular on new allowances, which they described as “unfavorable” and disconnected from the country’s economic realities.
The warning was issued during a joint press briefing on Tuesday in Osogbo, Osun State, where the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) caucus representing Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, and Ondo states declared its readiness to embark on industrial action if the government fails to act swiftly.
Dr Adeniyi Fasanu, Chairman of the Southwest NMA Caucus and Osun NMA Chairman, stated that the circular, issued by the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC), proposes increased allowances that are primarily symbolic and fail to meet the standards set in previous collective bargaining agreements.
“The figures introduced are inconsequential and inconsistent with the 2001, 2009, and 2014 CBAs. We demand their immediate correction,” Fasanu said, echoing the NMA’s national leadership position.
The caucus is also calling for the full payment and a comprehensive review of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to align with the nation’s inflationary conditions.
Speaking on behalf of Ondo doctors, Dr. Olumuyiwa Alonge criticised the lack of consultation before the circular was issued. “We were not carried along. At a time when we are battling severe shortages where one doctor is attending to 10,000 patients, our members deserve motivation, not marginalization,” he said.
Echoing similar concerns, Dr. Ifedayo Oreyemi, Chairman of the Ekiti State NMA, decried the growing exodus of medical professionals. Approximately 2,000 doctors leave the country each year. This should be a wake-up call for the government to treat welfare issues with urgency,” he said.
In Ogun State, Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi warned that the circular would have a demoralizing effect on doctors, many of whom are already grappling with low morale, burnout, and inadequate remuneration.
Dr Happy Adedapo of the Oyo State chapter echoed this, noting that the newly proposed allowance structure was inadequate amid soaring inflation and rising living costs.
Beyond the withdrawal of the NSIWC circular, the caucus outlined 18 core demands, including:
- Full implementation of the 2021 hazard allowance agreement.
- A review of doctors’ retirement age.
- Improved funding for health infrastructure;
- Strengthened doctor-patient ratios;
- And urgent reforms to stop the brain drain.
They warned that if the Federal Government fails to meet these demands within the given timeframe, an emergency meeting will be convened to determine their next steps, likely in collaboration with the NMA national leadership.
“The time for palliative gestures is over. What we demand is meaningful reform that respects the role doctors play in safeguarding national health,” Fasanu concluded.
