By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Medical doctors in Ondo and Ekiti States have rejected the recent circular by the Federal Government on the review of allowances for health workers, describing it as “obnoxious” and a breach of existing agreements.
The Nigerian Medical Association chapters in both states vowed to resist the policy, warning that failure to withdraw the circular within the 21-day ultimatum issued by the national body could lead to a nationwide strike.
NMA leaders argued that the move undermined previously agreed salary relativity between doctors and other health workers and came amid worsening brain drain, poor remuneration, and work overload in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The national body had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to withdraw a circular released through the National Salary Income and Wages Commission on June 27, 2025, with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/11/646, particularly on the supposed upward review of allowances.
NMA Ekiti State Chairman, Dr Ifedayo Oreyemi, in a chat with journalists on Thursday, urged the Federal Government “to stop the circular forthwith before the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum.”
Oreyemi said that 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 the Federal Government demonstrated the insensitivity and hypocrisy of the government to keep to term with the agreements previously entered into with the NMA,” the medical expert said.
Oreyemi, who said Nigerian doctors were among the best physicians and surgeons anywhere in the world, charged 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.”
The state NMA chairman listed the association’s demands, which he said must be met to avert the strike to include “the immediate withdrawal of the circular on review of allowances for medical/dental officers in the federal public service dated 27th June, 2025, and immediate correction of consequential adjustments in line with the agreements of 2001, 2009, and 2014 CBAs.”
The Ondo State NMA chapter also condemned the move by the wages commission to review the allowances for medical and dental officers.
The association, in a communique issued at the end of its emergency meeting in Akure, the state capital, signed by the state chairman and secretary, Dr Alonge Olumuyiwa, and Dr Olaopa Gideon, respectively, said the circular was obnoxious and ill-timed, coming in the light of the shortage of health workers following Japa yndrome among medical professionals.
The doctors expressed solidarity with the national officers of the association in their demands to the Federal Government.
They demanded immediate withdrawal of the circular as well as the review of the minimum wage to include at least a 300 per cent pay increase for all medical and dental practitioners.
“The recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission concerning the review of allowances for medical and dental officers in the Federal Public Service has raised significant concerns within the healthcare community.
“This obnoxious circular is coming against the background of a perennial shortage of human resources for health in the various facets and at all levels of healthcare in the face of the Japa syndrome, with its attendant work overload experienced by doctors and other health workers who chose to stay behind to serve our people.
“Other problems include, but are not limited to, very poor remuneration of doctors, poor conditions of service, and a backlog of owed arrears.
“In the light of our careful examination of this development and its implications for the already challenged healthcare system in our nation, the Ondo State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association wishes to express its very strong disapproval of this circular,” the communique read.
The association appealed to the senior medical professionals to speak out in defence of the profession, stressing that their voices would amplify the struggle.
It also directed its members in the state to be on standby for further directives on potential industrial action.