₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has outrightly rejected a new circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), warning that it violates existing agreements and threatens to destabilise the nation’s health system.

Addressing The Bureau Newspaper during a press briefing in Abuja, NMA President, Professor Bala Audu, criticised the circular — referenced SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646 and dated June 27, 2025 — describing it as misleading, inadequate, and capable of triggering industrial unrest.

“We reject this circular in its entirety. It violates previously signed agreements and aggravates existing tensions among dedicated medical professionals,” Audu said.

The circular proposes a revised structure for allowances of medical and dental officers in the Federal Public Service, but according to the NMA, it undermines years of collective bargaining and reneges on commitments from agreements reached in 2001, 2009, and 2014.

The Association has issued a 21-day ultimatum, threatening a nationwide withdrawal of services unless the Federal Government addresses its concerns urgently.

Demands by the NMA

Among its demands, the NMA is calling for:

1. Immediate withdrawal of the NSIWC circular.

2. Payment of all outstanding arrears, including 25/35 percent CONMESS entitlements, clinical duty, and accoutrement allowances.

3. Release and review of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund.

4. Issuance of circulars on clinical duty and honorary consultants’ allowances.

5. Implementation of specialist, scarce skills, and excess workload allowances.

6. Enforcement of the 2021 hazard allowance agreement.

7 Uniform adoption of CONMESS across all federal and state MDAs to curb brain drain.

Professor Audu stressed that the Association had made several good-faith efforts to engage relevant government agencies, but had been consistently ignored.

He urged President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the Nigerian public to take note of what he described as an “attempt to shortchange doctors and undermine healthcare delivery.”

Looming Health Crisis

The NMA warned that failure to meet its demands within the 21-day window would result in the withdrawal of medical services nationwide, a move that could cripple the country’s health sector.

“The Nigerian doctors are not unreasonable,” Audu said. “But our goodwill is not infinite. We cannot continue to operate in an environment of neglect and exploitation.”

The press conference concluded with a call on government stakeholders to act swiftly and honour prior agreements to prevent another major disruption in Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system.

Source: https://thebureau.com.ng/doctors-reject-new-pay-circular-issue-21-day-ultimatum/

Editorialtimes:
Source: https://thebureau.com.ng/doctors-reject-new-pay-circular-issue-21-day-ultimatum/

Nigeria shall be great again
Everybody wants to share of the national cake.
Doctor today, ASUU tomorrow

We cannot continue to operate in an environment of neglect and exploitation - NMA


Why won't they travel out...

And it's not as if this money is not available.. Just misplaced priorities. They are already thinking of 2027 elections


The masses will not talk now, but if they go on strike, they will start calling them selfish.

The president and his appointees are worst than the devil

I'm not even surprised at all because this is a president that priotised the well being of cows over human lives in benue state .

You people supported Tinubu that we all knew has nothing to offer.

Tinubu doesn't place much premium on health that's why. As long as they don't get treatment here, nothing concern them

Why will a medical doctor remain in Nigeria?
Why why

In my state health workers are living a good life and teachers live like puppet. Level 7 health workers earn higher than level 12 teaching workers.

dapadawee:
Nigeria shall be great again
Everybody wants to share of the national cake.
Doctor today, ASUU tomorrow

It was absolute chaos since Federal Government started creating multiple different payment systems for different units of same government. It is not sustainable and just a matter of time when we will revert to the right thing we had before.

You will be shocked at the huge disparity and injustice in the system. For NMA to have pulled its mask of NARD and now fighting directly tells you it's a lost cause already.

A PhD Lecturer in same ministry of education probably in one Federal College of Agriculture is paid peanuts compared to what a junior Lecturer earns in the Federal universities just because he or she's not ASUU member yet they work for same employer o. Smh

It's really been a long time ASUU kicked. Buhari and ngige really broke them, and I guess Tinubu hardship finally crush what remains of them.

dapadawee:
Nigeria shall be great again
Everybody wants to share of the national cake.
Doctor today, ASUU tomorrow

It's really been a long time since ASUU kicked. Buhari and ngige really broke them, and I guess Tinubu hardship finally crush what remains of them. I have learnt that ASUU members can only ensure indefinitely now.. 😊

dapadawee:
Nigeria shall be great again
Everybody wants to share of the national cake.
Doctor today, ASUU tomorrow

McLizbae:
It's really been a long time ASUU kicked. Buhari and ngige really broke them, and I guess Tinubu hardship finally crush what remains of them.

They lost the public sympathy and support too. Besides, ASUU has since lost the umbrella for all university Lecturers because whatever they agree with FG is not binding on state and private universities. They were late in realizing that such past leverage has diminished over the years.

With so much private and state universities now available, long strikes no longer shut the Nigerian universities system. Only federal universities alone are shutdown and kept behind. Many eventually leave the federal universities for private, state and overseas institutions. ASUU lost a lot of its members to non-ASUU state , private and overseas universities during the last strike, so much that many vacant positions are yet to be filled till date.


If NMA calls for a strike too, most of the state and private members will not comply.

All Tinubu cared about is Tax, Tax and Tax.

Can't wait for the failure to be booted out

Everything is so expensive now...

Editorialtimes:
Source: https://thebureau.com.ng/doctors-reject-new-pay-circular-issue-21-day-ultimatum/

Nigeria doctors will keep traveling abroad due to underpayments by the government, we will keep losing professionals to international communities if FG refuse to address the salary structure, an average salary of a doctor abroad is above 3,000 dollar’s upwards while in Nigeria 🇳🇬 doctors earn peanuts their salaries aren’t up to 500 dollars with this hard economy when things are getting expensive how do the government want salary earners to survive?

LagosOrigin:
The president and his appointees are worst than the devil

I'm not even surprised at all because this is a president that priotised the well being of cows over human lives in benue state .

U are saying what's is not.

Since this government emerge dem never strike. U think it's easy??

This government dialogue with them and do the needful.

Students 4yrs in higher institution is 4yrs.

Doctors won't go on strike.

Brazino:
Tinubu doesn't place much premium on health that's why. As long as they don't get treatment here, nothing concern them

Some of you are just unbelievable or outrightly mischievous. When was the last time Doctors or even ASUU went on strike?

NMA, JOHESU, ASUU, NASU etc always take turns to go on strike every other months under all previous presidents for the past 30 years. Since Tinubu became president, none of these unions have gone on strike. ASUU that is notorious for going on strike have not gone on any strike in the last two years. Yet, folks like you come out to spew outright lies.

How are we going to make this country work when citizens can’t even be truthful?

And tilumbu dey give scholarship for st Lucia 😄😄


Tufiakwa

In this economy, everyone needs a pay rise from the government.

seunmsg:
Some of you are just unbelievable or outrightly mischievous. When was the last time Doctors or even ASUU went on strike?

NMA, JOHESU, ASUU, NASU etc always take turns to go on strike every other months under all previous presidents for the past 30 years. Since Tinubu became president, none of these unions have gone on strike. ASUU that is notorious for going on strike have not gone on any strike in the last two years. Yet, folks like you come out to spew outright lies.

How are we going to make this country work when citizens can’t even be truthful?

The comment pain you Wella...
You go explain explain tire.

Government should do something to stop this japa thing o, we can’t afford to lose all our qualified doctors to other countries

Editorialtimes:
Source: https://thebureau.com.ng/doctors-reject-new-pay-circular-issue-21-day-ultimatum/

No gree for anybody even if they are thieves in power

dalongjnr:
In this economy, everyone needs a pay rise from the government.

Yes, they can't remove all social benefits and expect living wages to be stagnant. Doctors and public servants alike deserve a commensurate pay with inflation they caused.

FreeStuffsNG:
They lost the public sympathy and support too. Besides, ASUU has since lost the umbrella for all university Lecturers because whatever they agree with FG is not binding on state and private universities. They were late in realizing that such past leverage has diminished over the years.

With so much private and state universities now available, long strikes no longer shut the Nigerian universities system. Only federal universities alone are shutdown and kept behind. Many eventually leave the federal universities for private, state and overseas institutions. ASUU lost a lot of its members to non-ASUU state , private and overseas universities during the last strike, so much that many vacant positions are yet to be filled till date.


If NMA calls for a strike too, most of the state and private members will not comply.

Federal hospitals and teaching hospitals are the core hospitals for specialist care in Nigeria. You can't compare it to universities. If they strike and FMCs, NOFIC, National Orthopaedic centers and Federal teaching hospitals will all be shut. This will cripple the already bad healthcare system in the country.

Babatunjo:
We cannot continue to operate in an environment of neglect and exploitation - NMA


Why won't they travel out...

And it's not as if this money is not available.. Just misplaced priorities. They are already thinking of 2027 elections


The masses will not talk now, but if they go on strike, they will start calling them selfish.

I wish I could show you what they proposed paying.

They suggested the sum of, I kid you not the sum of 1600-7700 naira per 8hrs of call(NOT PER HOUR). They also proposed that they will only pay up to 5units/ 40hrs of call.

If nigeria pays by the hour like abroad, instead of salary per month, although small, it would still be workable, meaning that the government will only be able to pay doctor for 2 calls days per month. Anything that want to happen due to lack of manpower can happen and it won't be the doctor's fault since he can't work for free.

Even a prostitute earns higher than what they want to pay a doctor for 8 hrs of call duty. They defined a unit of call as 8hrs of call duty.

Call duty is when a doctor is required to work for 24hrs or more.

In most government hospitals, the doctor will resume 8am do his/her Normal work while being on call, after he finishes his normal work, either goes to the emergency or wherever he is to do call till the next day. The next day, he reviews the patient's he saw during off hrs(4pm - till 8am next morning) after which he does the next day's work and goes home by 4pm the next day.
Only to come to work the next day. Very few hospitals offer the next day as off duty


Some departments even make doctors work 72-96hr calls.(coughs in surgery/neurosurgery department)

This is different from the normal Monday 8-4pm work.

Most doctors work from minimum of 3- 10 calls per month depending on how little the workforce is.

Also, the circular also said they can only work/pay for maximum of 5 units of calls per month. Meaning that they will only pay peanuts for 40 hrs.

Which employer won't exploit that?

They want to cut doctors' salaries plain and simple.

Let them strike joor. The mumu don do.

DrFunmisticGlow:
I wish I could show you what they proposed paying.

Even a prostitute earns higher than what they want to pay a doctor for 8 hrs of call duty. They defined a unit of call as 8hrs of call duty

Call duty is when a doctor is required to work for 24hrs or more.

In most government hospital, the doctor will resume 8am do his Normal work while being on call, after he finishes his normal work, either goes to the emergency or wherever he is to do call till the next day. The next day, he reviews the patient's he saw during off hrs(4pm - till 8am next morning) after which he does the next day's work and goes home by 4pm the next day.
Only to come to work the next day. Very few hospitals offer the next day as off duty


Some departments even make doctors work 72-96hr calls.(coughs in surgery/neurosurgery department)

This is different from the normal Monday 8-4pm work.

Most doctors work from minimum of 3- 10 calls per month depending on how little the workforce is.

Also, the circular also said they can only work/pay for maximum of 5 units of calls per month. Meaning that they will only pay peanuts for 40 hrs.

Which employer won't exploit that?

Let them strike joor. The mumu don do.

You people should be resting o ...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

5starMan:
Why will a medical doctor remain in Nigeria?
Why why

Simple!

Marriage and responsibilities is what traps most.

Babangidapikin:
You people should be resting o ...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Rest ke!

And leave the work for who?

If not for the fact that being a doctor is in high demand, and unemployment is lower, many doctors would have quit medicine long ago and transitioned to Tech or business because the job will put food on your table and work you like a donkey but not make you wealthy. God knows I was considering quitting the profession last year due to frustration.

DrFunmisticGlow:
I wish I could show you what they proposed paying.

They suggested the sum of, I kid you not the sum of 1600-7700 naira per 8hrs of call(NOT PER HOUR). They also proposed that they will only pay up to 5units/ 40hrs of call.

If nigeria pays by the hour like abroad, instead of salary per month, although small, it would still be workable, meaning that the government will only be able to pay doctor for 2 calls days per month. Anything that want to happen due to lack of manpower can happen and it won't be the doctor's fault since he can't work for free.

Even a prostitute earns higher than what they want to pay a doctor for 8 hrs of call duty. They defined a unit of call as 8hrs of call duty.

Call duty is when a doctor is required to work for 24hrs or more.

In most government hospitals, the doctor will resume 8am do his/her Normal work while being on call, after he finishes his normal work, either goes to the emergency or wherever he is to do call till the next day. The next day, he reviews the patient's he saw during off hrs(4pm - till 8am next morning) after which he does the next day's work and goes home by 4pm the next day.
Only to come to work the next day. Very few hospitals offer the next day as off duty


Some departments even make doctors work 72-96hr calls.(coughs in surgery/neurosurgery department)

This is different from the normal Monday 8-4pm work.

Most doctors work from minimum of 3- 10 calls per month depending on how little the workforce is.

Also, the circular also said they can only work/pay for maximum of 5 units of calls per month. Meaning that they will only pay peanuts for 40 hrs.

Which employer won't exploit that?

They want to cut doctors' salaries plain and simple.

Let them strike joor. The mumu don do.

No physician works 72 hours call in any government hospitals. Not even Residents or house officers. Most of them (Consultant) have their own private practices and do locum jobs .

If you work 72 hours at a stretch in private practices and locum jobs,it is not the government business..

Stop the pity-party propaganda and negotiate with facts.

Dalohad:
No physician works 72 hours call in any government hospitals. Not even Residents or house officers. Most of them (Consultant) have their own private practices and do locum jobs .

If you work 72 hours at a stretch in private practices and locum jobs,it is not the government business..

Stop the pity-party propaganda and negotiate with facts.

This may have been true 10 yrs ago, not today.

They do 72hr calls in some departments especially residents and house officers in surgery departments. That I can tell you confidently.

Yes, consultants won't come for the entire 72hrs, but on the roster they are call for that 72hr period. The residents, house officers and medical officers are the ones on their feet for 3 days.
Where are you working?

DrFunmisticGlow:
This may have been true 10 yrs ago, not today.

They do 72hr calls in some departments especially residents and house officers in surgery departments. That I can tell you confidently.

Yes, consultants won't come for the entire 72hrs, but on the roster they are call for that 72hr period. The residents, house officers and medical officers are the ones on their feet for 3 days.
Where are you working?

Omo this no be life!
And about to join you in becoming a colleague soon.
What will be your advice for a new medical graduate? Knowing the funds for japa pathway is not there too

Leonardo4:
[/b]
Federal hospitals and teaching hospitals are the core hospitals for specialist care in Nigeria. You can't compare it to universities. If they strike and FMCs, NOFIC, National Orthopaedic centers and Federal teaching hospitals will all be shut. This will cripple the already bad healthcare system in the country.

Smh. How many Nigerians visit Teaching Hospitals for specialist care out of our population? If you call Teaching Hospitals the core of specialist care then you referring to a small portion because when cases are presented at the community and primary health care level for early detection and intervention they are less likely to deteriorate and require specialist care.

Again, most of the health facilities fall under state and private category and are less likely to comply. As a matter of fact, same NMA members will be referring their clients to their private facilities so who are they deceiving when they say they are on strike yet working and ripping off the Nigerian public?

Simeonjoe1:
Omo this no be life!
And about to join you in becoming a colleague soon.
What will be your advice for a new medical graduate? Knowing the funds for japa pathway is not there too

Btw, what school are you finishing from?

UK don dey cast don't bother, some of my colleagues with PlAB haven't gotten offers and it is almost 2 years now.

Consider schooling in other countries in Europe. A masters in a health related course.

Apply for scholarships



Canada is there too, but you will mostly likely end up as a GP or in psychiatry. You also need money.

Or you could try Saudi Arabia, work under them with contract for 5 years and use that money to prepare for USLME, MCCQE, or Australian papers.

America is good, but you have to be very smart, rich or marry a citizen which is tough.