NMA Suspends Strike, Issues 21-Day Ultimatum to Federal Government
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its planned nationwide strike, granting the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to address key issues raised by its members. The decision was reached after an emergency delegates meeting held in Abuja, where medical professionals deliberated on the outcomes of recent engagements with government officials.
Top among the association’s grievances is the controversial circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission on June 27, which made revisions to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and altered allowances for medical and dental professionals. The NMA has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular, describing it as unacceptable and detrimental to members’ welfare.
Other core demands include the full implementation of the 2001 Collective Bargaining Agreement regarding professional allowances, payment of clinical duty and accoutrement allowances, upward review of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), and the urgent constitution of boards for federal hospitals across the country.
Although a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between representatives of the government and the NMA during a recent negotiation meeting, delegates at the emergency session rejected it. According to the association, the document lacked sufficient legal authority, having been signed by junior-level government officials rather than principal signatories.
The NMA clarified that the 21-day ultimatum, which began counting from July 26, serves as a final opportunity for the government to respond comprehensively to its demands. Should no concrete steps be taken by the end of the ultimatum, the association warned that a full-scale nationwide strike would be inevitable.
This suspension of industrial action offers a temporary reprieve to Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system, which has been under strain from workforce shortages and recurring disputes over remuneration.
Will the Federal Government act in time to avoid another major disruption to the country’s healthcare sector?
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