FG meets with NMA over revised allowances for medical officers

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says it has begun negotiations with the federal government over its demands.

On July 2, the association issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government in protest of a circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission on revised allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service.

The doctors opposed the circular, saying it violated prior agreements and asked the federal government to withdraw it to avert industrial action. The NMA’s ultimatum expires today.

During an interview on Channels Television, Bala Audu, the NMA president, said the association was also demanding the payment of all the arrears accrued over the last 18 months.

“Our simple demand is that the circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission should be withdrawn so that all stakeholders can come to the negotiating table and discuss,” he said.

“We risk the whole healthcare system of this country being shut down, which the Nigerian Medical Association does not in any way want to see happen. That won’t happen as long as the government is responsive.”

On Tuesday, the commission issued a circular saying its implementation of the revised allowances has been “suspended to allow for further consultation with the various Professional Associations and Unions in the Health and Education Sectors”.

The decision was said to have been taken after a meeting chaired by the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy in his capacity as the chairman of the presidential committee on salaries (PCS).

Speaking with TheCable on Wednesday, the NMA president said meetings with the federal government had begun.

“We gave them an ultimatum, and today we began negotiation meetings with them; so we are not on strike,” he said.

“Those representing the government in the meeting are the ministry of health and social welfare, ministry of labour and employment, ministry of budget and national planning, the office of the accountant general of the federation, and the office of the head of civil service of the federation.”

Audu added that it “looks like there would be a resolution” at the end of the meetings.