The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Aniekan Peter, has said that the Federal Government is slowly turning doctors into modern-day slaves by making them work hard without fair pay.
At a press conference in Uyo on Friday, Dr. Peter said doctors are being forced to work for more than 72 hours without rest, yet they are paid so little that they struggle to feed their families.
He was angry about the government’s recent review of doctors’ allowances, calling it insensitive and a big insult to the medical profession.
Dr. Peter explained that in other countries, doctors are given good treatment and benefits. But in Nigeria, they are overworked and poorly paid.
He said doctors often work for three days straight, staying in the hospital the entire time without seeing their families. Yet, their monthly salary is so low that it can’t even cover basic needs like food or transportation.
He blamed the Federal Government for pushing doctors into poverty. He said the recent proposal to increase doctors’ allowances by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission was too small and disrespectful.
Dr. Peter also criticized the difference in how Nigerian doctors abroad are treated compared to those working in the country. He mentioned that President Bola Tinubu sent doctors to St. Lucia with a salary of ₦3 million, while doctors in Nigeria earn only ₦300,000.
He said it is very unfair that Nigerian doctors are paid so poorly, which is why many are leaving to work in countries like Ghana, Togo, Liberia, and Cameroon. He called it shameful that doctors are quitting their jobs in Nigeria to work in nearby African countries.
During the press briefing, Dr. Peter shared a message from the state NMA supporting the 21-day warning given by the national NMA leadership over the pay review.
He said the Akwa Ibom NMA has rejected the new allowance circular and added new suggestions to the 19 demands already made by the national body to the Federal Government.
Their demands include: a 300% salary increase for all doctors; applying salary improvements equally across federal, state, private, and university hospitals; canceling the June 27, 2025 circular; fixing salary structures based on past agreements; adjusting the pay scale between different medical salary levels; and paying all outstanding allowances owed to doctors.
Dr. Peter called on the Federal Government to quickly fix the problems affecting doctors so that more of them do not leave the country.
