The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised concerns over the exit of 300 medical doctors from Jigawa due to poor remuneration.

The Chairman of the NMA Jigawa Chapter, Dr. Usman Haruna, disclosed this at a news conference on Monday in Dutse. He stated that the doctors were exiting the state service at an alarming rate from February 2025 to date.

“Jigawa State is losing its best-trained professionals to neighbouring states and federal institutions that offer standard and competitive remuneration based on the CONMESS salary table. This haemorrhage of talent threatens the very foundation of our state’s healthcare system,” he said.

However, Dr. Haruna attributed the trend to the inability of the salary review committee to submit its report five months after inauguration.

“Over five months ago, after our crucial engagement with Gov. Umar Namadi, in his magnanimity, he graciously approved and mandated the minimum wage implementation committee to, within two weeks, meet with us, resolve, and report to him on the fiscal requirements for implementing urgent salary adjustments for doctors to align with the federal government’s counterparts, including correction of entry point disparities, implementation of hazard, and rectification of call duty allowances.

To date, this committee has failed to report back to the governor, despite having allegedly completed the assignment a long time ago,” he said.

According to Haruna, the delay in the submission of the committee’s report is fuelling a mass exodus of doctors from the state health sector.

He stated that the failure to submit the report posed a threat to the governor’s achievements in the health sector.
While commending Namadi for his transformative healthcare initiatives, Haruna urged the immediate submission of the committee’s report.