The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened the Federal Government with a nationwide strike from Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Prof Bala Audu, the NMA President, has said that doctors will ground medical services across Nigeria if the government fails to meet their demands.
Audu stated that the NMA will embark on its planned strike as the 21-day ultimatum it gave the Federal Government draws to a close on July 23.
According to him, the association’s demands were not for personal gains but critical to the survival of the healthcare system in Nigeria.
He said that the welfare of medical professionals across the country is very important, adding that the NMA will always fight for doctors.
“We have made our position clear. The ultimatum ends on July 23, and if the Federal Government does not address our demands, we may have no choice but to proceed with a strike, ” he said.
“The circular issued contains provisions that were not mutually agreed upon and which undermine the remuneration and welfare of medical professionals, as such, we engaged the Federal Government to avert a humanitarian crisis in the sector.
“We have rejected that circular outright. We expect that any new directive affecting our members should be the outcome of mutual consultation, not something imposed.
‘The last meeting happened two weeks ago and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate; the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako; the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Hospital Services, and the representative of minister of labour were at the meeting, and some affiliates of the NMA were present, and I was part of that meeting as well.”
Prof Audu revealed that the death and burial ceremony of Muhammadu Buhari, the former President stalled a fresh meeting that was scheduled for last week.
The NMA had, on July 2, issued a deadline in protest against a circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission on revised allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service, which the doctors rejected for violating prior agreements.
