The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a 21-day notice of total and indefinite strike due to the federal government’s claimed refusal to meet long-standing requests.
The group, in a communiqué issued following its Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM) on July 26, 2025, in Abuja, voiced great unhappiness with the government’s lengthy negotiations on matters affecting doctors’ welfare throughout the country.
The communiqué, issued by NMA President Prof. Bala Audu and Secretary General Dr. Jamin Egbo, noted many outstanding issues, including the suspension rather than withdrawal of a recent circular by the National Salaries, Income, and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which the association had challenged.
The association’s National Officers Committee (NOC) organised the EDM in reaction to the NSIWC circular on the review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors and the federal government’s failure to pay seven months of accrued 25/35% CONMESS adjustment arrears, honour previously signed Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), and adequately prioritise the health sector at all levels of governance.
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The communiqué reads in part, “The EDM, after extensive deliberations, unanimously condemned the federal government’s approach to the welfare of its members and the persistent neglect of issues affecting Nigerian doctors.
“The EDM issued a 21-day notice of total and indefinite strike, effective from July 27, 2025, in line with relevant labour laws, should the government fail to comprehensively address the association’s demands within this period.”
While optimistic that the government would act responsibly to avoid a nationwide strike, the association noted the risk such neglect poses to the already fragile health-care system and urged the government to consider citizens’ health needs as well as medical professionals’ well-being.
The NMA complimented the National Officers Committee and the National Technical Negotiating Team (NTNT) for their ongoing engagement with government agencies. However, it complained that none of its 19 criteria had been entirely addressed.
The EDM also expressed concern over inadequate implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with government representatives, rising economic hardship affecting both doctors and citizens, the continued neglect of the health sector, which contributes to brain drain and poor national health indices, and the increasing trend of medical tourism by government officials, which it said undermines confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The NMA thanked delegates from the 36 states and the FCT who attended the meeting and urged all Nigerian doctors to remain united and committed to the association’s common vision.
The communiqué closed with a plea for prompt government intervention to minimise needless disruptions in the country’s health-care system.
