South-West doctors reject new allowances, threaten strike

By Olajide Idowu

The South-West Caucus of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to call out its members for strike over recent circular issued by the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on allowances doctors.

The NMA said this while demanding immediate withdrawal of the circular over as it noted that the allowances prescribed are not in tandem with the current economic reality.

The caucus, which comprised of Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun and Ondo states, said this at a news conference in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Dr Adeshina Fasanu, who is also the Osun State NMA Chairman addressed the press conference.

He revealed that the national leadership of NMA had given the Federal Government 21 days ultimatum to withdraw the circular.

He said the southwest caucus aligns with national leadership of the NMA.

According to him, the caucus is also in support of the national body of NMA demand for immediate correction of inconsequential adjustment in alignment with the 2001, 2009 and 2014 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), full payment of 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and comprehensive review of the fund to reflect current economic realities.

Dr Olumuyiwa Alonge, Ondo NMA Chairman, said the FG did not consult them before announcing the allowances.

Alonge said this was the time medical doctors needed to be motivated as there was serious shortage of doctors in the country, with a ratio of one doctor to 10,000 patients.

Speaking, Dr Ifedayo Oreyemi, Ekiti State NMA Chairman, said 2,000 doctors leave the country yearly, adding that if doctors’ welfare was not given adequate attention, doctors would continue to leave the country for greener pasture.

Dr Luqman Ogunjimi, Ogun State NMA Chairman, said the NWIC circular on doctor’s allowances would discourage doctors that were already overworked and underpaid, to want to remain and practice in the Nigerian health sector.

Dr Happy Adedapo, Oyo State NMA Chairman, said government needed to be responsive to the plight of doctors, saying the allowance being introduced was insignificant against the rising inflation in the country.

The causus, among their 18 demands, also ask for the implementation of the 2021 hazard allowance agreement, and implementation of the revised retirement age for medical and dental practitioners.

They said if the Federal Government failed to attend to their demands, the caucus would convene an emergency meeting to advise their members appropriately in concert with the national leadership of NMA (NAN)