NMA President Prof. Bala Audu emphasized that the controversial circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission—which revises allowances for medical and dental officers—was issued without consultation and undermines existing agreements. According to him, failure to resolve the issue would leave no option other than industrial action.
Efforts to reach a resolution included meetings with Minister of Health Prof. Muhammad Pate, Minister of State Dr. Iziaq Salako, and representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the NSIWC.
However, a subsequent meeting aimed at addressing the demands was delayed due to the national mourning following former President Buhari’s death. NMA stressed that unless dialogue resumed promptly, the strike would proceed as scheduled.
The planned strike threatens a halt to essential health services across the country, heightening concerns amid ongoing brain drain and dwindling healthcare resources. Kogi, Katsina, Ekiti, and Ondo doctors’ associations had previously issued warning strikes over the same salary circular, signaling a broader wave of discontent within Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
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