… 300 doctors exit Jogawa in 5 months – NMA
Hospitals across Nigeria are bracing for a major disruption as the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has directed its members in federal health institutions to begin a seven-day warning strike from Tuesday, July 29, 2025 (today), over what it described as worsening conditions of service and disregard for their demands.
The strike directive, made public on Monday in Abuja, was signed by the association’s National Secretary, Enya Osinachi, and President, Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan. It follows the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government on July 14, which elicited no response.
According to the union, the planned industrial action will involve the complete withdrawal of nursing services across federal hospitals, specialist centres, and health research institutions.
The association said the strike became necessary after the Federal Ministry of Health and other concerned agencies failed to reverse a controversial June 27 circular from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and address key issues such as shift duty, call duty, and retention allowances.
“Our members are being pushed to the brink. We represent the backbone of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce, accounting for 60–70 per cent of services delivered in hospitals,” the union stated.
The association also condemned the lack of action on issues of poor working conditions, inadequate staffing, insecurity at duty posts, and non-payment of arrears related to revised hazard allowances.
Healthcare experts warn that a nationwide nurses’ strike could paralyse federal hospitals, which already suffer from a shortage of personnel and underfunded infrastructure.
Nurses have long complained of being overworked and underpaid, especially in tertiary institutions where patient loads are heavy.
NANNM called on the Federal Government to show good faith by engaging the union in immediate, transparent negotiations and reversing policies seen as hostile to workers’ welfare.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Jigawa State’s already fragile healthcare system is facing a major crisis as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) disclosed that no fewer than 300 medical doctors have resigned from state service between February and July 2025.
The mass departure, described as an exodus, has triggered alarm among healthcare professionals and raised urgent questions about the state’s capacity to deliver essential health services.
The state chairman of the NMA, Dr Usman Haruna, made the revelation during a press conference in Dutse on Monday, warning that the continuous loss of medical personnel was fast eroding the achievements recorded under the administration of Governor Umar Namadi in the health sector.
“These are not just numbers. We are losing highly trained, experienced professionals, many of them specialists to neighbouring states and federal health institutions that offer better pay and working conditions,” Haruna said.
He traced the root of the crisis to the failure of the Jigawa government to implement salary adjustments that would align with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) already in effect at the federal level and in several other states.
According to him, a committee mandated by the governor five months ago to review the remuneration of doctors and recommend improvements has yet to submit its report, despite assurances that its work was complete.
“In February, Governor Namadi graciously inaugurated a salary adjustment committee following our engagement with him. It was directed to conclude its assignment in two weeks. But five months later, nothing has come out of it,” Haruna stated.
He further warned that the delay is encouraging doctors to seek greener pastures, and without decisive action, the state’s health system could collapse under the weight of personnel shortages.
Jigawa, one of the northern states with fragile health indices, has long relied on public sector doctors to meet the health needs of its predominantly rural population. With many facilities understaffed, especially in remote areas, the situation is expected to worsen unless urgent steps are taken.
Dr Haruna praised Governor Namadi for initiating healthcare transformation programmes, including hospital renovations and equipment procurement, but stressed that these gains would mean little without the human capital to deliver care.
He called on the government to expedite the committee’s report and implement its recommendations to halt the professional flight.
