Demands: Medical academics give 15-day ultimatum to FG

The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) on Wednesday issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government to meet its demands or face industrial action across the country’s medical schools and health institutions. The association’s National Executive Council (NEC), which met in Abuja on July 5, also declared its full support for the […]

The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) on Wednesday issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government to meet its demands or face industrial action across the country’s medical schools and health institutions.

The association’s National Executive Council (NEC), which met in Abuja on July 5, also declared its full support for the 21-day ultimatum earlier issued by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) over unresolved issues in the health sector.

President of NAMDA, Dr. Nosa Lance Orhue, during a press briefing in Abuja said the warning became necessary following government’s failure to address lingering grievances, including unpaid allowances, pension anomalies, and critical manpower shortages in medical schools.

“All the issues raised in our trade dispute with the federal government remain unresolved,” he said. “These include non-payment of seven months’ arrears of clinical duty and accoutrement allowances, and continued neglect of hospital-based academics in pension implementation.”

NAMDA also demanded a minimum salary of ₦3 million ($2,000) for the lowest-paid medical academic, citing the federal government’s plan to send doctors to St. Lucia on the same pay grade.

Dr. Orhue described the disparity as “insulting and unacceptable,” warning that failure to act within 15 days could lead to widespread disruption in medical training and healthcare delivery.

“We reject the discriminatory hazard allowance circular and demand its immediate reversal. Our members are not part of ASUU, yet our 2022 withheld salaries remain unpaid,” he said.

The association also condemned a recent circular by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC), calling for its immediate withdrawal and replacement with one aligned with existing collective bargaining agreements.

NAMDA’s NEC called for a total review of the 2009 FGN academic staff agreement, correction of the CONHESS–CONMESS relativity, and separation of basic medical science degrees from clinical faculties to ease lecturers’ workload.

It further backed the NMA’s wider demands, including universal implementation of CONMESS across all tiers of government, payment of specialist and scarce skills allowances, and enforcement of retirement ages—70 for medical consultants and 65 for other healthcare professionals.

The union also demanded the recall and regularization of all sacked doctors at the National Hospital, Abuja; the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; and other centres in line with National Assembly directives.

Dr. Orhue warned that failure to meet these demands would spark “an imminent industrial crisis” in both the health and education sectors, adding that medical academics have “exhausted all diplomatic options.”