The Traffic

NMA Halts Planned Strike, Issues Fresh 21-Day Ultimatum Over Allowance Dispute

After a tense 13-hour deliberation that stretched from Saturday afternoon into early Sunday morning, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has decided to suspend its proposed nationwide strike, offering the Federal Government an additional 21 days to resolve lingering issues surrounding revised allowances for medical professionals.

The development follows weeks of tension over a controversial circular—SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, dated June 27, 2025—issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission. The circular proposed a revision of allowances for Medical and Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service, which the NMA strongly condemned as a breach of previous collective bargaining agreements.

Speaking after the emergency meeting, NMA President Prof. Bala Audu described the circular as “misleading” and a clear violation of prior agreements. In response to the backlash, the Federal Government invited the NMA to a series of conciliatory meetings—first with the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and later with officials from the Ministries of Labour, Finance, and the Budget Office.

The meetings culminated in a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NMA and the government. However, the legitimacy of the agreement was questioned by many NMA delegates, as none of the Ministers or Permanent Secretaries signed the document—only Directors, raising fears about its enforceability.

This uncertainty sparked a heated debate at the NMA’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, with some delegates calling for an immediate strike. At one point, Prof. Audu offered to step down rather than lead a strike on the same day an agreement was signed. His stance led to further discussions and eventually a vote, in which a majority chose dialogue over industrial action, albeit conditionally.

Ultimately, the NMA resolved to suspend the planned strike and granted the Federal Government a fresh 21-day deadline to fully implement the agreed-upon allowance adjustments, particularly the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

While this move temporarily eases tensions in the health sector, uncertainty remains about whether the government will meet its obligations within the new timeline.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna