The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has warned of an imminent shutdown of the country’s healthcare system over the Federal Government’s continued failure to address long-standing welfare and policy demands.
The association issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on July 2, threatening to down tools if urgent steps are not taken to resolve pending issues, including the implementation of a reviewed salary structure and the withdrawal of a controversial circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Speaking with journalists, NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, lamented the government’s unresponsiveness, accusing relevant authorities of ignoring several agreements and deliberately excluding key stakeholders from critical decisions affecting the health sector.
“Our healthcare system is dangerously close to collapse. We have been more than patient for over 18 months, waiting for the government to fulfil promises already approved by President Bola Tinubu,” Audu said.
According to him, while the president had approved the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), the implementation was fraught with discrepancies and unilateral actions by the Salaries and Wages Commission, including the reduction of some allowances for senior consultants.
“The circular issued by the commission disregarded existing Collective Bargaining Agreements reached in 2001, 2009, and 2014, which stipulate that certain allowances must reflect as a percentage of basic salary,” Audu explained.
He added that the circular was released without consulting the Ministry of Health or the association, a move he described as “disrespectful and unacceptable.”
The NMA is demanding the immediate withdrawal of the circular and full settlement of outstanding arrears that have accumulated since the beginning of 2024. It also seeks the establishment of a functional collective bargaining framework and full implementation of policies aimed at curbing the mass exodus of healthcare professionals from Nigeria, popularly known as the japa syndrome.
Audu expressed concern over the brain drain, stating that doctors who have remained in the country face severe burnout due to increased workload and lack of adequate support. He urged the government to fast-track waivers and approvals for the recruitment of critical clinical staff, as earlier promised by President Tinubu.
“Doctors who stayed back have remained patriotic in the face of adversity, but their patience is wearing thin. What we’re asking for is not new—just the implementation of what has already been approved,” he stressed.
He warned that failure to act swiftly could lead to a total shutdown of the healthcare system, a move the NMA does not desire but may be forced to embark on if the situation remains unchanged.
While engagements have reportedly been held with the Minister of State for Health, Audu noted that there has been no direct invitation or dialogue from the Federal Ministry of Health itself, further stalling efforts at resolution.
The NMA’s warning comes at a time when Nigeria is battling outbreaks of infectious diseases, including cholera, dengue fever, diphtheria, and mpox. Analysts say a strike at this time could further overwhelm the already fragile health system.
“The ball is in the government’s court,” Audu concluded. “We don’t want to shut down the system. But if this neglect continues, we will have no choice.”
As the 21-day deadline draws closer, stakeholders across the health sector are watching anxiously, urging the government to avoid a repeat of past health crises triggered by industrial actions.
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