Hospitals across Nigeria are bracing for a nationwide shutdown as doctors in government-owned facilities inch closer to launching an indefinite strike. Issued under the umbrella of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), a 21-day ultimatum given to the federal government is nearing expiration, and patients—especially in public hospitals—are gripped with fear over their fate.
In Lagos State, where doctors recently embarked on a 3-day warning strike, many patients were left without urgent medical attention. Omolara, a mother whose daughter is awaiting orthopaedic surgery at a government hospital, expressed heartbreak over the delay.
“My daughter is in constant pain and unable to walk. We’ve been waiting months for this surgery to give her relief,” she told The Global Tribune. “Private hospitals are not an option for us financially. If the strike begins, I don’t know what will happen.”
The NMA had issued the national strike notice on July 26 after an emergency congress held in Abuja. A similar ultimatum issued by federal and state medical doctors expired on July 23 without resolution. The NMA insists that longstanding unresolved grievances are at the root of the planned action.
In a communique signed by its president, Professor Bala Audu, the NMA listed several demands, including the implementation of a 30% increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), which was approved but has remained unpaid for seven months.
“There are clear discrepancies between the salary structures of health professionals,” Prof. Audu said. “Our members are being denied what is rightfully theirs, and the silence from government quarters is unacceptable.”
Beyond salary issues, the NMA is also pushing for the payment of overdue allowances outlined in collective bargaining agreements signed in 2001, 2009, and 2014. A particularly urgent concern is the rapid depletion of medical professionals due to emigration, often referred to locally as the ‘Japa’ syndrome.
“The healthcare system is experiencing a human resource crisis,” Audu explained. “Over 30% of our consultants have left the country, and those who remain are facing burnout. This has made effective healthcare delivery extremely difficult.”
According to the NMA, the President of Nigeria has already approved a waiver for the recruitment of the critical health workforce. However, the association faults the federal Ministry of Health and hospital management for failing to act.
“The policy exists, but its implementation has stalled,” Audu said. “Until new doctors are trained and hired, and conditions improve, our hospitals will continue to operate under severe strain.”
The situation is further compounded by issues surrounding the residency training programme. Although the federal government established a Medical Residency Training Fund, NMA says funds are rarely released on time.
“Resident doctors are the backbone of our hospitals,” Audu added. “Yet, training is underfunded, poorly managed, and young doctors are now opting to leave the country for postgraduate education elsewhere.”
Supporting this claim, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) recently issued a separate three-week ultimatum, urging the government to prioritize doctors’ welfare and institutional reforms. Following its National Executive Council meeting in Calabar, NARD demanded that its members be formally included in the civil service structure and receive all overdue emoluments.
At Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Oyo State, resident doctors have already downed tools. Dr. Steven Adedokun, president of NARD-LAUTECH, said the strike, which began on July 29, centers on “failure to implement the new minimum wage for doctors, disbursement delays of residency training funds, and poor working conditions.”
In addition to financial demands, the NMA is calling for the immediate withdrawal of a controversial circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, which allegedly reduces allowances for senior consultants.
“The allowances being proposed are different from what is in the collective bargaining agreement. We are simply asking the government to respect agreements already signed,” Prof. Audu emphasized.
He concluded by urging swift and concrete action. “We have presented these issues repeatedly. They are not new demands. All we want is implementation. The Nigerian health system depends on it, and most importantly, so do the lives of our patients.”
As the countdown to the strike continues, uncertainty hangs heavy in hospitals nationwide, and without meaningful intervention, Nigeria’s fragile public health system faces a new wave of disruption.
