The Ondo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the state government, demanding urgent intervention to address what it describes as deteriorating welfare conditions within the health sector.
In a statement dated 15 April and signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Muyiwa Alonge, the association outlined key demands. These include the immediate implementation of salary adjustment circulars with arrears, payment of accoutrement allowances, settlement of outstanding promotion allowances, and the urgent recruitment of health workers to address staffing gaps.
Dr. Alonge stated that the state government had failed to implement critical federal circulars on salary adjustments and allowances, despite repeated engagements. He noted that doctors employed at the federal level, and in several other states, have already begun to benefit from these provisions.
“Our colleagues at the federal level, and in many other states, have been enjoying these benefits for almost a year,” he said.
The association further expressed concern over unpaid 2024 promotion allowances and a widening workforce deficit, as the government has yet to recruit new personnel to replace those who have exited the system.
According to Dr. Alonge, the situation has been exacerbated by the continued emigration of medical professionals, placing an unsustainable burden on those who remain in service.
“Because of the ‘Japa syndrome’, too many doctors have left the system. Those of us remaining now do the work of five people. Doctors in the state service no longer have a life of their own,” he said.
He added that many health facilities across the state are operating under suboptimal conditions, with obsolete or insufficient equipment, forcing healthcare workers to improvise in order to deliver critical services.
From an HR perspective, the association’s concerns highlight systemic issues around workforce retention, remuneration equity, and capacity planning—key factors affecting employee morale, productivity, and the overall sustainability of healthcare delivery.
Dr. Alonge noted that the association had made several attempts to resolve the issues, including submitting a position paper and writing multiple letters to the government between November 2025 and January 2026, but without meaningful progress.
He said the ultimatum, which expires on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, provides the government with a final opportunity to address the concerns before the union considers further action.
“We are giving the government until Tuesday, 28 April 2026, to act. If nothing is done, the NMA will call an emergency congress to decide our next lawful steps, and that may include a withdrawal of services,” he said.
He added that while the association remains reluctant to embark on industrial action due to its impact on patients, the current strain on the system has become untenable.
“We do not want to go on strike because the people suffer, but the reality is that the system is already under strain,” he said.
