The federal government has assured medical doctors and other healthcare workers that their seven months’ salary arrears will be paid before the end of August 2025, as part of measures to avert an impending strike in the health sector.
However, the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association has warned that doctors employed by the state may embark on an indefinite strike over what it described as “wicked, insensitive, and illegal” deductions from their July 2025 salaries by the State Treasury Office.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, made the pledge during a joint meeting with leaders of major health unions in Abuja over the weekend. This development follows the Nigerian Medical Association’s recent issuance of a 21-day ultimatum to the government to address outstanding welfare concerns or face a nationwide strike.
Similarly, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives had earlier embarked on a warning strike, which was suspended after interventions from stakeholders.
To prevent further disruptions in the sector, the Ministry of Health convened a roundtable meeting with the NMA, NANNM, and the Joint Health Sector Union, alongside the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to negotiate and resolve pending issues. Speaking after the meeting, Prof. Pate reaffirmed the government’s commitment to paying the seven-month backlog and reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to finding lasting solutions to challenges in the nation’s healthcare system.
In separate interviews, NMA President Prof. Bala Audu and JOHESU National President Comrade Kabiru Minjibir expressed optimism that the agreements reached could prevent the looming strike if fully implemented. The stakeholders expressed hope that the federal government would honor its commitments to ensure sustained industrial harmony and uninterrupted healthcare services nationwide.
