The Federal Government has suspended the implementation of a circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission regarding the review of allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service, following intense pressure from medical professionals who threatened industrial action.
The suspension comes as a direct response to a 21-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Medical Association on July 2, warning of possible nationwide strike action if the controversial circular was not withdrawn and other critical demands addressed by the medical body.
Professor Bala Audu, President of the NMA, had strongly condemned the NSIWC’s directive as a violation of previously agreed terms regarding doctors’ allowances, emphasizing that the decision was made without proper consultation with relevant stakeholders. “We have rejected that circular outrightly. We expect that any new directive affecting our members should result from mutual consultation, not unilateral imposition,” Audu stated.
The NMA president warned that failure to resolve the issues could severely impact Nigeria’s already overstretched and underfunded healthcare system. “The unresolved issues are critical to the survival of the already strained healthcare system in Nigeria and require urgent government attention,” he added.
Dr. Tope Osundara, President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, confirmed the suspension on Tuesday, revealing that the decision emerged from a high-level government meeting chaired by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy in his capacity as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Salaries.
“Arising from the meeting, it was agreed that the implementation of the circular with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, dated 27 June 2025, should be suspended to allow for further consultation with various professional associations. So, it has been suspended for further negotiations,” Osundara explained.
The controversial circular, issued on June 27, sought to adjust the allowance structure for federal medical and dental officers but triggered immediate backlash from health professionals who accused the government of reneging on prior agreements and excluding stakeholders from the decision-making process.
The suspension comes just two days before the NMA’s ultimatum was set to expire on Thursday, July 23, which would have likely resulted in a nationwide strike by doctors if the matter had remained unresolved.
With the circular now suspended, the federal government is expected to initiate comprehensive stakeholder engagement to review the disputed terms and prevent any disruption of healthcare services across the country.
Healthcare stakeholders have called on the government to treat the matter with the utmost urgency and seriousness, particularly given ongoing concerns about the deteriorating state of healthcare delivery nationwide.
