Kwara doctors reject new medical allowance reviews

The Kwara State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has rejected the recently issued circular by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on the review of allowances for medical and dental officers in federal public service.

Addressing a press conference in Ilorin, the state capital, NMA Chairman, Prof. AbdulRahman Afolabi, criticized the June 27, 2025 circular, stating that it undermines the existing Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) by eroding relativity— a key component of previous wage agreements.

“The NMA Kwara strongly condemns and rejects the circular. We fully support the 21-day ultimatum given to the federal government to resolve all welfare concerns affecting doctors nationwide,” Afolabi said.

He described the review as a move that worsens inequality in the health sector and threatens the stability of Nigeria’s already strained medical workforce. Afolabi warned that the circular, if implemented, could further demoralize health professionals, reduce productivity, and fuel brain drain.

“The doctor-to-patient ratio in Nigeria is already at a critical level—1 to 5,000—far below the WHO’s recommended 1 to 600. Any policy that exacerbates this imbalance is dangerous,” he cautioned.

The NMA also expressed dismay over NSIWC’s disregard for earlier collective bargaining agreements reached in 2001, 2009, and 2014.

Calling for immediate action, Afolabi urged the federal government to suspend the circular, convene a stakeholder dialogue, and reinstate salary relativity as agreed in past reforms. He stressed that ignoring these concerns could trigger industrial unrest at a time when healthcare stability is urgently needed.