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Doctors Issue 21-Day Ultimatum and Reject New Pay Circular

• By Rich Health News Desk
• July 03, 2025

A new circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) has been categorically rejected by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which warns that it breaches current agreements and could cause the country's healthcare system to become unstable.

 

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, NMA President Professor Bala Audu criticized the circular, which was dated June 27, 2025, and referenced SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, calling it deceptive, insufficient, and liable to incite industrial disturbance.

 

“We reject this circular in its entirety. It violates previously signed agreements and aggravates existing tensions among dedicated medical professionals,” Audu said.

 

Although the circular suggests a new framework for medical and dental officers' benefits in the Federal Public Service, the NMA claims that it violates agreements made in 2001, 2009, and 2014 and undercuts years of collective bargaining.

 

The Association has issued a 21-day ultimatum, threatening a nationwide withdrawal of services unless the Federal Government addresses its concerns urgently.

 

What the NMA Wants

The NMA is requesting, among other things:

1. The NSIWC circular should be immediately withdrawn.

2. The settlement of all unpaid debts, including clinical duty, accoutrement allowances, and 25/35 percent CONMESS entitlements.

3. The 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund is released and reviewed.

4. Circulars regarding honorary consultants' allowances and clinical duties are issued.

5. Implementation of allowances for excess workload, specialized talents, and scarce skills.

6. The 2021 hazard allowance agreement's enforcement.

7 CONMESS should be uniformly adopted by all federal and state MDAs in order to prevent brain drain.

 

Professor Audu emphasized that despite the Association's repeated sincere attempts to contact pertinent government agencies, they had been continuously disregarded.

 

The Nigerian public, the National Assembly, and President Bola Tinubu were encouraged to pay attention to what he called an "attempt to shortchange doctors and undermine healthcare delivery."

 

Threatening Health Emergency

The NMA threatened to shut down medical services nationally if its demands were not met within the allotted 21 days, which may seriously harm the nation's healthcare system.

 

Audu asserted, "The Nigerian doctors are not unreasonable." “But our goodwill is not infinite. We cannot continue to operate in an environment of neglect and exploitation.”

 

In order to avoid another significant interruption in Nigeria's already precarious healthcare system, the news conference ended with a plea on government parties to move quickly and uphold previous commitments.