The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Nasarawa State has given the state government a 21 days ultimatum to improve the poor welfare packages of doctors across the 13 local government areas of the state, or face industrial action. Dr Peter Attah, the NMA Chairman in the state, explained that the association’s demands include non-implementation of promotion and salary increments; non-implementation of minimum wage and consequential adjustments; non-implementation of reviewed hazard allowance and the accrued 17 months arrears; inadequate manpower and overwork of doctors; high burden of taxation on doctors; and medical residency training fund payment.

While speaking during a press briefing in Lafia on Tuesday, Dr Attah stressed that the strike was not just about the doctors but also about their patients’ access to quality healthcare services. He noted that many patients are still referred to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for medical attention that could have been provided in the state, adding that the association is pushing for each general hospital in the state to have a minimum of four doctors, depending on the location of the hospital.

The NMA Chairman also lamented that the state had lost over 27 medical doctors since January 2023, due to poor conditions of service, urging Governor Abdullahi Sule to address the issues raised by the association to tackle brain drain in the health sector. He called on the governor to settle the issues so that doctors could serve residents of the state better.

The doctors’ ultimatum expires on July 3, 2023, and should the state government not address the demands of the NMA, the association will commence an industrial action.