“Fix Our System First!” — NMA Issues 21-Day Ultimatum to FG.

In a blistering reaction to the Federal Government’s latest diplomatic move, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has criticized the agreement to send Nigerian doctors and healthcare professionals to the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia, describing it as a “national contradiction” and “morally unjustifiable.”

The NMA, through its Secretary General, Dr. Benjamin Egbo, stated that while Nigeria may seek to bolster its international partnerships, it must not do so at the expense of its healthcare workforce, which continues to suffer under “chronic neglect and deliberate systemic failure.”

According to the Association, the move comes amid a backlog of unresolved issues that have left many doctors in dire working conditions across the country. Among the grievances raised are:

Inconsistent and delayed salaries

Withheld Medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF)

Non-implementation of previously agreed welfare packages

Risky work environments without adequate compensation

Partial application of the CONMESS salary structure

“These conditions are pushing doctors to the brink—physically, mentally, and emotionally,” the NMA lamented, highlighting a wave of burnout, stress-related illnesses, and increasing medical emigration from Nigeria.

The Association, in a press statement issued on July 2, handed the government a 21-day ultimatum to reverse a “misleading circular” from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), fulfill all outstanding agreements, and ensure fair remuneration for doctors nationwide.

The NMA also raised concerns about the disparity in earnings, noting that doctors posted to Saint Lucia would reportedly be paid five times more than their Nigerian counterparts. “You cannot claim to value your professionals abroad while devaluing them at home. That is a recipe for brain drain, and it endangers our national health security,” Egbo asserted.

The statement ends with a call for urgent action, urging the Federal Government to prioritize the welfare of doctors within Nigeria before seeking accolades abroad.