Lagos begs medical doctors to suspend warning strike

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised the alarm over the growing exodus of medical doctors from Jigawa State, blaming the trend on poor remuneration and the state government’s failure to implement promised salary adjustments.

It warned that unless the government comprehensively addresses their 19-point demand within 21 days, from July 27, doctors across Nigeria would embark on an indefinite strike.

However, the Lagos State Government called on the Medical Guild to suspend its planned three-day warning strike, assuring doctors that the concerns they raised were being addressed.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday in Dutse, Jigawa, Chairman of NMA, Dr Usman Haruna, disclosed that 30 doctors left the state’s service since February 2025.

Describing the situation as alarming, Haruna said Jigawa was losing some of its best-trained medical professionals to neighbouring states and federal institutions offering better incentives.

“This haemorrhage of talent threatens the very foundation of our state’s healthcare system,” he added.

He further attributed the exodus of doctors to the prolonged inaction of the salary review committee, which failed to submit its report five months after its inauguration by Governor Umar Namadi.

The Guardian had reported that the association suspended its planned strike and gave the Federal Government another 21 days to meet its demands.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM), the association expressed disappointment with the lingering negotiations with the Federal Government on matters affecting the welfare of doctors in the country, adding that none of its 19 demands had been comprehensively addressed.

It condemned the government’s “nonchalant attitude” towards the welfare of Nigerian doctors and its disregard for previously signed collective bargaining agreements.

NMA frowned upon the persistent neglect of the country’s health sector and the nonchalant attitude of government agencies in implementing the Federal Government’s agreements and directives.

The association explained that the meeting was convoked at the instance of its National Officers Committee (NOC) in response to the recent circular released by the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on: the review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for medical doctors, the persistent delay of the Federal Government to pay accrued seven-month arrears of the 25/35 per cent arrears of the last CONMESS adjustment; the failure of government to respect previously signed Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs); and the seeming neglect of the health sector by government at all levels.

The communiqué signed by the NMA President, Prof Bala Audu, and Secretary-General, Dr Benjamin Egbo, read: “The Emergency Delegates Meeting issued a 21-day notice of a total and indefinite strike in line with the relevant labour laws effective from July 27, 2025, should the government fail to address its demands comprehensively within this period.

“The EDM expressed concern that these actions and inactions of the government at all levels are capable of increasing brain drain and worsening our already subpar health indices in the country.”

It called on all Nigerian doctors to remain steadfast and committed to the shared vision and collective goal of the association.

Doctors in the Lagos public health sector, under the umbrella of the Medical Guild, began a warning strike yesterday to protest against “unlawful and disrespectful” deductions from their salaries. The strike is scheduled to run from 8.00 am on July 28 to 8.00 am on July 31.

Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, expressed concern over the issues regarding alleged unauthorised deductions and related matters.

While appealing to the doctors to reconsider the industrial action, the state government assured that steps were already in motion to resolve the situation.