LAGOS NMA REJECTS FG’S PROPOSED DOCTORS’ SALARY STRUCTURE, WARNS OF HEALTH SECTOR COLLAPSE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has strongly rejected the Federal Government’s proposed salary structure for medical doctors, describing it as unjust, unprofessional, and a looming threat to Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system.
At a press briefing held in Lagos on Friday, the NMA Lagos Chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, said the proposed structure disregards clinical responsibility, dismantles long-standing professional hierarchies in hospitals, and undermines the integrity of the health sector.
“After extensive review and consultations with stakeholders, we find the proposed structure deeply flawed and potentially damaging to the integrity of our health system,” Saheed said.
The NMA faulted the government’s move to eliminate salary relativity a long-standing pay distinction between medical doctors and other health professionals based on clinical training, responsibility, and exposure to risk.
“This is not about superiority,” Saheed added. “As the late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti rightly said, the hierarchy in health is not about ego but about responsibility. When you blur it, you destroy the chain of accountability.”
He warned that the abolition of this relativity could lead to confusion over clinical leadership in hospitals and threaten patient care standards.
The association also rejected the proposed allocation of specialist and honorarium allowances to non-doctors, stressing that such benefits are meant solely for clinicians who have undergone rigorous postgraduate training.
“These allowances are reserved for those recognised by accredited professional colleges. Extending them to others devalues specialist certification and expertise,” Saheed said, quoting World Health Organisation guidelines which affirm that specialist remuneration must reflect clinical leadership, knowledge depth, and risk.
In addition, the NMA criticised the parity being proposed between medical doctors and holders of academic doctorates in allied disciplines, such as pharmacy and optometry.
“While we respect every healthcare professional, clinical licensure and patient care responsibilities are not equivalent to academic qualifications,” he stated. “No developed health system equates a Doctor of Pharmacy with a certified medical consultant.”
The Lagos NMA also backed the national body’s 21-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government, calling for urgent dialogue and policy reversal.
“This ultimatum is not an act of aggression but a call for responsible negotiation. We stand by all the demands, including the restoration of salary relativity and the reversal of unjust allowance reallocations,” Saheed declared.
The association appealed to the Lagos State Government not to implement the proposed federal structure, urging instead a locally negotiated, professionally acceptable alternative.
“Lagos is known for excellence in healthcare. Adopting a flawed federal framework could damage that reputation,” he warned.
Citing Nigeria’s worsening doctor-to-patient ratio currently around 1:5,000 compared to the WHO-recommended 1:600, the NMA warned that the policy could exacerbate the mass exodus of doctors.
“Doctors are already leaving in droves,” Saheed said. “Behind every emigrating doctor is a collapsing clinic and a patient left behind.”
The NMA urged the Federal Government to initiate constructive, evidence-based engagement with medical professionals to develop a sustainable, globally-aligned salary structure.
“We’re not opposed to reform,” Saheed concluded. “But it must be just, professional, and reflect the realities of medical practice in Nigeria. This is about the survival of our healthcare system.”
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