 has issued a fresh warning to the Federal Government as the 21-day ultimatum it earlier declared nears){kind=link}
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a fresh warning to the Federal Government as the 21-day ultimatum it earlier declared nears expiration on July 23, 2025.
The association threatened that it would have no choice but to shut down medical services nationwide if the government fails to meet its demands within the stipulated timeframe.
The ultimatum, issued on July 2, 2025, was prompted by the NMA’s rejection of a controversial circular released by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). The circular, with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646 dated June 27, 2025, proposed a revised structure for allowances of medical and dental officers in the federal public service.
The NMA described the circular as an imposition that violates previously established agreements between the government and healthcare professionals.
The NMA President, Professor Bala Audu, has reaffirmed the association’s resolve to take decisive action should the government fail to respond adequately.
He explained that the association’s demands are vital for the protection of the welfare of medical professionals and for ensuring the sustainability of Nigeria’s already strained healthcare system.
“We have made our position clear to the Federal Government. The ultimatum will expire on July 23, and if our demands remain unaddressed, we may be forced to embark on a nationwide strike,” Prof Audu declared.
He criticised the government’s approach, stating that the circular introduced provisions that were never mutually agreed upon, thereby undermining the remuneration and overall welfare of medical practitioners.
“We outrightly reject that circular. Any new directive that affects our members must be a product of mutual consultation, not a unilateral decision,” he stressed.
To avert the looming crisis, Prof Audu disclosed that the NMA had been engaging in talks with government stakeholders. The latest of such meetings, he revealed, was held two weeks ago and attended by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate; the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako; the Permanent Secretary; the Director of Hospital Services; a representative from the Ministry of Labour; and various NMA affiliates.
“I was part of that meeting,” Audu noted. “We are aware that government officials have been occupied with funeral ceremonies recently, but we expect that talks will resume, hopefully by Monday. Nevertheless, the 21-day ultimatum remains unchanged. If the government fails to address these pressing issues, industrial action may become inevitable.”
In a similar vein, the NMA’s Katsina State chapter has thrown its weight behind the national body’s position, expressing strong disapproval of the NSIWC circular.
During its State Executive Council meeting held on Saturday in Katsina, the branch conveyed its “grave disappointment” and issued an “unequivocal condemnation” of the directive.
The communique from the meeting, signed by the Chairman of the NMA Katsina branch, Dr Muhammadu Sani, and the Secretary, Dr Yahya Salisu, was made public on Sunday. It categorically rejected the circular and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
“NMA Katsina State branch hereby rejects the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission’s circular on the revised allowances for medical/dental officers in the federal public service. We urge the government to act swiftly in withdrawing the circular and fulfilling all pending demands,” the communique stated.
The Katsina chapter also warned that it could not guarantee the uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services in the state if the government failed to act.
As the deadline approaches, pressure continues to mount on the Federal Government to intervene decisively and engage with the NMA in order to prevent a nationwide disruption of medical services.
Also, the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has firmly rejected the Federal Government’s newly proposed salary structure for medical doctors, warning that it poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.
The State Chairman of the NMA, Dr. Babajide Saheed, described the proposal as fundamentally flawed and professionally damaging.
According to him, the new structure disregards long-established salary relativity principles that differentiate pay scales based on clinical risk, responsibility, and years of training.
Dr. Saheed voiced strong support for the national NMA’s 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, describing it as a necessary measure to protect the future of healthcare in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara State chapter, firmly rejected the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC)’s recently released circular on the review of allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service.
The association described the review as flawed, inequitable, and detrimental to the nation’s healthcare system.
At a press briefing held in Ilorin, the state capital, the state chairman of the NMA, Professor AbdulRahman Afolabi, voiced strong opposition to the NSIWC circular dated June 27, 2025.
“The NMA Kwara State branch strongly condemns and outrightly rejects the NSIWC circular,” Afolabi said.
“We also fully support the 21-day ultimatum already issued by our national body to the Federal Government, demanding urgent resolution of all outstanding welfare issues affecting medical doctors in Nigeria.”