……. rejects NSIWC circular
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in resolving the lingering issues surrounding salary arrears.
NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, while speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at a press conference, where he also addressed a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) described the circular as “misleading, inadequate, and a violation of previous collective bargaining agreements.”
The circular (SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646), dated June 27, 2025, relates to the review of allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service.
Audu said that rather than addressing the consequential adjustments under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), the circular undermined previously agreed terms, further aggravating tensions among medical practitioners.
“This circular is a flagrant violation of the spirit and letter of the agreements reached between the NMA and the Federal Government.
“It has caused deep dissatisfaction among the few remaining patriotic doctors still serving in the country,” he said.
He noted that the association had submitted a corrected salary adjustment table to the appropriate agencies, but it was ignored.
“We were not consulted. Other healthcare workers were also excluded from the discussions, and this is causing ripple effects across the entire healthcare delivery system,” he added.
Audu said the NMA was left with no choice but to demand the direct intervention of the president.
“We believe that with the President’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Health Agenda, this issue can be resolved promptly.”
The association further demanded the reversal of the appointment of other healthcare professionals as consultants in hospitals, citing potential patient safety risks.
“We are not preventing anybody from attaining any position. It’s an issue of nomenclature, but patient care must be physician-led to ensure responsibility and coordination,” he explained.
Audu emphasised that in the multidisciplinary environment of hospitals, only a physician-led consultant system could guarantee safe, coordinated, and accountable care.
He stressed that several unresolved issues were compounding the crisis in the health sector.
Other demands from the association included the immediate correction of the relativity agreed between CONMESS and CONHESS and compliance with relativity in all professional allowances in accordance with the 2001 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
This particularly concerns call duty allowances and the payment of all accrued backlogs.
He also demanded the payment of clinical duty and accoutrement allowances, as well as the payment and review of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund.
The NMA called for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all medical and dental practitioners, the constitution of hospital management boards, and the implementation of the revised retirement age for doctors.
Audu also demanded improved welfare and support systems for healthcare workers and the immediate release of the Circular on Clinical Duty and other allowances for honorary consultants, as agreed in January 2024.
In addition, the NMA sought the implementation of scarce skills allowances for medical consultants, approval of specialist allowances for all doctors, and approval of excess workload allowances for all doctors.
“We have shown goodwill through continuous dialogue with government agencies and the Ministry of Health.
“However, we expect these issues to be addressed within 21 days to avoid disruptions in healthcare services,” Audu said. (NAN)
