NMA Urges Swift Action on Doctors’ Demands as 21-Day Strike Deadline Looms
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the long-standing demands of medical professionals across the country, warning that failure to act before the expiration of a 21-day strike notice could result in a total collapse of healthcare services nationwide.
This warning came in a communiqué released at the end of the 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the NMA, Ekiti State chapter, held on Sunday in Ado Ekiti. The statement, jointly signed by the chapter’s Chairman, Dr. Ifedayo Oreyemi, and Secretary, Dr. Akinluyi Oluwatobi, emphasized the critical nature of the doctors’ grievances, which are encapsulated in a 16-point agenda.
While commending President Bola Tinubu for reportedly directing relevant government agencies to engage medical professionals on the issues raised, the NMA leaders stressed that “prompt and decisive” implementation of the President’s directive was essential.
“The doctors’ demands, if implemented, will adequately address the problem of brain drain in Nigeria and place the country’s healthcare delivery system on the global map,” the communiqué stated.
The association’s demands primarily focus on improved welfare packages and a holistic overhaul of the nation’s deteriorating healthcare infrastructure. According to the NMA, this is vital not only to retain skilled medical personnel but also to enhance the quality of service delivery for all Nigerians.
In a show of appreciation, the NMA Ekiti Chapter lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his administration’s recent implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors in public health institutions within the state.
However, the association appealed to the governor to expedite the disbursement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund for resident doctors at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, urging parity with their federal counterparts who have already received theirs.
Beyond doctors’ welfare, the AGM resolutions extended to broader national concerns. The NMA called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through full operationalization of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
They noted that prompt implementation of recently revised capitation rates and payments to healthcare providers is necessary to make the scheme attractive and sustainable.
The communiqué also touched on national security and economic challenges. The association urged the government to strengthen Nigeria’s security apparatus to tackle growing insecurity and terrorism, stressing that economic growth cannot be achieved without peace and safety.
On inflation, the NMA warned of the growing frustration among citizens. “A hungry man is an angry man,” the statement read, cautioning that the administration must not allow hardship to deepen, lest it risks leading “a nation of hungry citizens.”
With just weeks remaining on the 21-day deadline issued by the association’s national body, the NMA is pressing for swift action to avoid what could become a nationwide health crisis.
