Nigeria’s health sector may face a major disruption as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government, warning of an indefinite nationwide strike if critical demands affecting doctors’ welfare are not met.
The decision was taken at an Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM) held in Abuja on July 26, following growing frustration over unresolved issues in the healthcare sector.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, and Secretary General, Dr. Jamin Egbo, the association condemned what it described as the federal government’s continued indifference to the plight of Nigerian doctors. The EDM was convened by the association’s National Officers Committee in response to a controversial circular by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which merely suspended rather than fully revoked a disputed review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Among the grievances listed were the non-payment of seven months’ arrears arising from the 25/35% CONMESS adjustment, failure to implement Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), chronic underfunding of the health sector, and disregard for previously signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). The NMA emphasized that these persistent lapses have continued to erode morale within the medical profession.
The association also decried worsening conditions in public health institutions, the ongoing brain drain of skilled medical professionals, and the increasing trend of medical tourism among public officials, factors it said contribute to the steady decline in Nigeria’s health indicators and public trust in the local healthcare system.
While commending its National Technical Negotiating Team (NTNT) for sustained engagement with government stakeholders, the NMA revealed that none of its 19 documented demands had been fully addressed. It further warned that failure to meet these demands by August 17, 2025, would result in a total withdrawal of medical services nationwide.
The meeting concluded with a call for unity among medical professionals and a passionate appeal to the federal government to act urgently and responsibly to avert a collapse of essential health services. The NMA stressed that the onus lies squarely on the government to prevent an avoidable national health emergency.
