Ekiti Doctors Reject Pay Review, Warns of National Strike

Doctors in Ekiti State have pushed back against a new pay circular issued by the Federal Government, warning that failure to address their concerns within 21 days could lead to a nationwide strike.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ekiti raised its objections during a press briefing held in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday. According to the association, the government’s decision to revise allowances for health workers without respecting earlier agreements has sparked widespread discontent within the medical community.

The controversial circular, released on June 27, 2025, by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, proposed a fresh upward review of allowances across the health sector. However, doctors argue that the move violates long-standing collective bargaining agreements that define how doctors’ pay should be structured in relation to other healthcare workers.

The NMA’s Ekiti Chairman, Dr. Ifedayo Oreyemi, described the circular as a breach of trust and accused the federal government of undermining agreements made in 2001, 2009, 2014, and 2021. He warned that unless the circular is withdrawn and several other pending issues are addressed within the 21-day deadline issued by the national NMA body, doctors across the country may be forced to withdraw their services.

Among the demands outlined by the association are the immediate withdrawal of the June 27 circular, correction of salary adjustments to reflect past agreements, restoration of pay relativity between doctors and other healthcare workers, and full payment of all backlogs related to call duty allowances.

Other key demands include the release of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), an upward review of the fund to reflect the current economy, and the immediate resumption of long-delayed negotiations on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). The doctors also seek the approval and implementation of several allowances, including those for clinical duties, specialist roles, excess workload, and hazard risks.

The Ekiti NMA also condemned a recent statement made on national television by a former government spokesperson, who suggested that former President Muhammadu Buhari would have died if he had received medical treatment in Nigeria. The association called the comment reckless and disrespectful to the country’s medical professionals.

They maintained that Nigerian doctors rank among the best in the world and urged political leaders to invest in the country’s health system instead of depending on foreign hospitals for their care.

As the 21-day ultimatum ticks down, all eyes are now on the federal government to see if it will meet the doctors’ demands and avoid a strike that could affect healthcare delivery across the country.