Ogun NMA chairman has urged the state to reduce heavy taxes placed on doctors’ salaries.
He warned that high deductions are pushing public health workers to leave for better opportunities.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ogun State, Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi, has appealed to the state government to ease the tax burden placed on doctors working in public health institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abeokuta on Tuesday to mark the start of the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting, Dr. Ogunjimi stressed that reducing the high taxes deducted from doctors’ salaries could help retain the dwindling number of healthcare workers in the state.
While commending the government for aligning state doctors’ salaries with their federal counterparts after 16 months of negotiations, Ogunjimi noted that the level of tax deductions now discourages many from remaining in public service.
“We’ve experienced internal brain drain, with many doctors leaving for federal institutions or relocating to other states due to better pay,” he said. “Now that our salary scale has been adjusted, the tax rate is still a pressing concern. We’re not asking to be exempted from tax, but the deductions are too high and are pushing people away.”
The theme for this year’s AGM, which runs from August 3 to 9, is “Leveraging on Technology to Drive Medical Practice in the Era of Dwindling Medical Personnel.”
Dr. Ogunjimi also urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to look into other outstanding matters affecting medical personnel, including the implementation of consequential salary adjustments following the new minimum wage, and the uncertainties surrounding the state’s contributory pension scheme, which he said was a source of concern for many civil servants.
He acknowledged the government’s efforts in paying the Medical Residency Training Fund for 2024 and 2025 for doctors at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, as well as the disbursement of clinical duty allowances to honorary consultants and court allowances.
However, he pointed out that the issue of remuneration for clinical lecturers remains unresolved and requires urgent attention.
The association also called on the government to implement the agreed entry-level salary structure for doctors, known as CONMESS 3, which has not yet been enforced for all eligible members.
Despite the challenges, Ogunjimi stated that there are still around 1,000 doctors serving across state and federal health institutions in Ogun, who remain dedicated to providing care to residents, so long as their welfare is not neglected.
The NMA also condemned ongoing incidents of harassment and assault on doctors in the state, warning that the association would take firm action against any perpetrators to protect its members.
Dr. Ogunjimi reaffirmed the NMA’s commitment to improving the welfare of doctors in Ogun, noting that this was essential to ensure continued productivity and quality healthcare delivery.
