From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ekiti State Chapter has rejected the recent circular released by the Federal Government on the proposed upward review of allowances of health workers.
The Chairman of the Association in the state, Dr Ifedayo Oreyemi made this known to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, on Thursday,
where he also disclosed that the association has urged the federal government to withdraw the circular forthwith before the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued by the national body.
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The association warned that failure of the federal government to withdraw the circular and address other demands within the 21- day ultimatum could lead to nationwide industrial action.
The Federal Government had released a circular through the National Salary Income and Wages Commission on June 27, 2025 with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/11/646 on the supposed upward review of allowances.
Dr Oreyemi said the circular was “a flagrant contravention of the previous Collective Bargaining Agreements that emphasised the existence of relativity in the remuneration of doctors with other health care workers.
“The action of government clearly demonstrated the insensitivity and hypocrisy of the government to keep to term with the agreements previously entered into with the Nigeria Medical Association.”
The Chairman listed the demands of the association which he said must be met to avert the impending strike to include, ” Immediate withdrawal of the circular on review of allowances for medical/dental officers in the federal public service dated 27th June, 2025.
“Immediate correction of consequential adjustments in line with the agreements of 2001, 2009, and 2014 CBAs.
” Immediate correction of the relativity agreed between CONMESS and CONHESS, and compliance with relativity in all professional allowances with the 2001 CBA, particularly regarding call duty allowances, and the payment of all accrued backlogs.
“Immediate payment of Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for 2025 and upward review of the MRTF to reflect prevailing economic realities, and Immediate convocation of the long – overdue Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations on CONMESS.”
Others are, “Immediate release of circular on clinical duty and other allowances for honourary consultants as agreed in January, 2024.
“Implementation of scarce skills allowances for medical consultants.
“Approval of specialist allowances for all doctors.
‘Approval of excess workload allowances for all doctors, and Compliance with CBA of 2021 on hazard allowance and few others.”
The Ekiti State NMA chapter also condemned the statement made by former spokesman of the federal government on National Television where he alleged that former president Muhammadu Buhari would have died long ago if he was treated in Nigeria, describing the statement “as reckless.”
The doctors asserted, “Medicine is universal, and that Nigerian doctors are amongst the best physicians and surgeons anywhere in the world.”
They appealed to Nigerian leaders and politicians “to endeavour to invest in the country’s health sector as done in countries where they always run to for medical assistance.”
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