Doctors in the South-West zone of Nigeria have warned they may go on strike if the Federal Government does not cancel a new allowance policy they say is unfair.
The group, called the South-West Caucus of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), includes doctors from Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, and Ondo states. They gave this warning during a press conference in Osogbo on Tuesday.
Dr. Adeshina Fasanu, who leads the caucus and also heads the NMA in Osun State, said a recent notice from the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission about doctors’ allowances does not reflect the current economic situation.
Fasanu said the national NMA has given the Federal Government 21 days to cancel the new allowance policy.
He added that the South-West doctors fully support the national body’s demands, including a proper review of the allowance adjustments based on previous agreements made in 2001, 2009, and 2014.
One key demand is the full payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and they also want the fund to be updated to match today’s economic conditions.
Dr. Olumuyiwa Alonge, NMA Chairman in Ondo State, said the Federal Government did not discuss the changes with doctors before announcing the new allowances.
Alonge added that this is the wrong time to upset doctors, as the country already has too few of them—just one doctor for every 10,000 patients.
Dr. Ifedayo Oreyemi, Chairman of NMA in Ekiti State, said around 2,000 doctors leave Nigeria each year. He warned that more will leave unless their welfare improves.
Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi from Ogun State said the new policy could push overworked and underpaid doctors to leave the Nigerian health system entirely.
Dr. Happy Adedapo, NMA Chairman in Oyo State, said the government must take doctors’ complaints seriously. He described the new allowance as too small to help with the rising cost of living.
The group listed 18 demands, including that the government must fully implement the hazard allowance agreement from 2021 and approve a new retirement age for doctors and dentists.
They said if the government does not meet these demands, they will hold an emergency meeting to decide on the next steps, working together with the national NMA leadership.
