Doctors in Abia rejects Nigerian government’s circular on salary, backs national body

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA Abia State chapter has rejected the June 27, 2025 circular from the National Salary Income and Wages Commission, NSIWC, demanding a circular that reflects the previous agreements reached between the Federal government and NMA.

The NMA made its position known at its Secretariat in Umuahia on Friday.

The Chairman of NMA Abia State, Dr. Ezuruike Ezinwa who addressed the press on the matter, said his chapter is in full support of the 21-day ultimatum given to the Federal government by the National body of the NMA, led by its President, Professor Bala Mohammed Audu and the 18-points demands.

He said that the recent circular dated June 27, 2025 was a gross violation of the agreement negotiated and agreed upon during collective bargaining with the Federal government of Nigeria.

Dr Ezuruike, who said that disregard for due process and agreement is an affront to democratic governance, regretting that the welfare of doctors is still being relegated to the background, which he blamed for the increasing exodus of medical Doctors to foreign countries.

“We at NMA Abia State having x-rayed all the issues at hand, state that we align totally and unequivocally with the ultimatum so issued by our National body under the able leadership of of our President, Professor Bala Mohammed Audu”.

The Abia NMA members lamented that the June 27 2025 “circular has aggravated the festering wounds of the few Doctors and Nurses that are still practicing in Nigeria”.

They therefore demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular on the review of allowances for Medical and Dental officers in the federal public service.

They further demanded that hospitals be headed by Medical Doctors even as they called for the issuance of a circular implementing the reviewed retirement age for medical and dental practitioners, among other demands.

Doctors in Abia rejects Nigerian government’s circular on salary, backs national body