The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has firmly rejected the Federal Government’s proposed new salary structure for medical doctors, labelling it inequitable, unprofessional, and a threat to the fragile stability of Nigeria’s healthcare system.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, the NMA Chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, cautioned that the new proposal undermines core clinical responsibilities and threatens to erode the leadership structure of hospitals nationwide.

“Following comprehensive review and stakeholder consultations, we find the proposal fundamentally flawed and potentially harmful to the integrity of our health system,” Saheed said.

He explained that the proposed structure disregards established salary relativity, which differentiates remuneration based on clinical training, responsibility, and risk exposure.

“This is not about professional superiority. As the late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti stated, the hierarchy in healthcare reflects responsibility, not ego. Undermining it only distorts accountability within the system,” he noted.

Saheed warned that scrapping salary relativity would breed confusion over clinical leadership and dilute lines of professional accountability in hospitals.

The NMA also objected to the inclusion of specialist and honorarium allowances for non-medical doctors in the new framework, arguing that such benefits are specifically reserved for certified clinicians who undergo extensive postgraduate training.

“These allowances were created for clinicians accredited by recognised postgraduate medical colleges. Extending them beyond this group renders the purpose of specialist certification meaningless,” he asserted.

Quoting World Health Organization guidelines, Saheed added, “Specialist pay must reflect clinical leadership, depth of expertise, and exposure to risk. This proposal does not meet those criteria.”

The Lagos NMA also rejected the idea of salary parity between medical doctors and holders of academic doctorate degrees in allied health disciplines such as pharmacy and optometry.

“We value every healthcare professional, but there’s a clear distinction between clinical licensure and academic qualification. Equating a Doctor of Pharmacy with a certified medical consultant is both misleading and professionally untenable. No advanced health system in the UK, Canada, or Australia operates this way,” he said.

The Lagos NMA expressed strong support for the 21-day ultimatum issued by the national NMA to the Federal Government, describing it as a necessary call for fairness and the preservation of healthcare standards.

“This ultimatum is a call for responsible negotiation, not confrontation. We fully support the demand for the restoration of salary relativity and reversal of unjust allowance redistribution,” Saheed affirmed.

He also appealed to the Lagos State Government to resist implementing the Federal Government’s plan until a consensus is reached through professional dialogue endorsed by the NMA.

“Lagos State has earned a reputation for excellence in healthcare. That legacy must not be jeopardised by adopting a flawed and divisive framework,” he warned.

Raising concerns about the deepening medical brain drain, Saheed noted that Nigeria’s current doctor-to-patient ratio—approximately 1:5,000 compared to the WHO’s 1:600 recommendation—is worsening.

“Doctors are exiting the country in alarming numbers. This proposal will only accelerate that trend. Each doctor that leaves creates a void, and behind every departure is a clinic struggling to survive and patients left without care,” he said.

Dr. Saheed concluded by urging the Federal Government to engage the NMA in evidence-based, collaborative reform that respects professional realities and global standards.

“We are not opposed to reform. But reform must be just, informed, and reflect the actual demands of clinical practice in Nigeria. At stake is the very future of our healthcare system and the dignity of those who sustain it.”

Stay connected via Google News

Follow us for the latest travel updates and guides.