The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria has declared its support for the Nigerian Medical Association in rejecting the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission’s circular on revised allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service.
MDCAN, in a statement signed and released by its President, Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, and its General Secretary, Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim, on Sunday, said the circular is deemed grossly inadequate, misleading, and a flagrant violation of previous collective bargaining agreements between the Nigerian Medical Association and the Federal Government.
The medical and dental consultants called for the immediate withdrawal of the (SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646) circular dated June 27, 2025, and demanded urgent correction of consequential adjustments in line with agreements from 2001, 2009, and 2014.
The consultants also demand,” The immediate correction of the relativity agreed between the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure and compliance with relativity in all professional allowances in accordance with the 2001 CBA, particularly regarding call duty allowances, and the payment of all accrued backlogs; immediate settlement of all outstanding arrears of 25/35 per cent CONMESS, clinical duty and accoutrement allowances owed to medical and dental practitioners; immediate payment of Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for 2025, and review of the MRTF to reflect prevailing economic realities; immediate convocation of the long-overdue Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations on CONMESS.
“The immediate release of the circular on Clinical Duty and other allowances for honorary consultants as agreed in January 2024; implementation of scarce skills allowances for medical consultants; approval of specialist allowances for all doctors; approval of excess workload allowances for all doctors; adoption of relativity in all professional allowances in accordance with the 2001 CBA, particularly regarding call duty allowances; compliance with CBA of 2021 on hazard allowance. Implementation of revised CONMESS for house officers.”
MDCAN also asked the Federal Government to take immediate action on several key issues to improve healthcare delivery and retain medical personnel, which include the universal application of CONMESS across all government institutions.
The association also wants the immediate reversal of the appointment of other healthcare professionals as consultants in hospitals to ensure patient safety and uphold standards of care.
It also demanded comprehensive health insurance for all medical and dental practitioners, revised retirement age implementation, and robust welfare and social support packages.
The association warned that failure to address these concerns within 21 days could lead to healthcare disruptions and reaffirmed its solidarity with the NMA.
“MDCAN is confident that the Federal Government will do all it takes to resolve these issues within the 21-day window period, to avert the potential disruptions in healthcare services and its attendant consequences if these concerns are not resolved.
“MDCAN, in full support and solidarity with NMA, demands urgent Government action to address these pressing issues and awaits further directives from NMA,” it stated.
The NMA on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to withdraw the circular within 21 days and meet its other demands to avert industrial action in the health sector.
The association expressed disappointment and condemned the circular on the consequential adjustment of allowances under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria.
