Doctors Call for Improved Work Conditions, Demand Health Sector Reforms

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners has called for urgent reforms to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Speaking at the NMA Secretariat in Abeokuta after the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting, National President Dr. Anas Alhaji Idris stressed that a motivated medical workforce is essential for national development. He highlighted the pressing issues of brain drain, insecurity, unsustainable workloads, and burnout as key threats to industrial harmony in the health sector.

Dr. Idris commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s security efforts, noting that peace is fundamental to a thriving healthcare environment. “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” he said.

The association outlined several key demands, including:

Immediate implementation of a revised salary scale and retention allowances to boost morale and curb the migration of doctors.

Swift resolution of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to restore trust and stability in the sector.

Comprehensive insurance coverage for doctors, protecting them and their families against rising occupational hazards such as workplace violence and insecurity.


“We urge the Federal Government, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Ministry of Labour to urgently reconvene and resolve the CBA without further delay,” Dr. Idris said. “A functional and motivated medical workforce is indispensable to national development, and resolving the CBA is a critical step in restoring trust and stability in the health sector.”

He also called on both federal and state governments to enroll all doctors in comprehensive insurance schemes as part of broader welfare and retention policies. “No doctor should work under conditions that leave their families vulnerable in the event of untimely deaths,” he added.

The NEC further stressed that tackling insecurity across the country is central to reversing brain drain, stabilizing healthcare delivery, and enabling doctors to work in a safe environment.

Dr. Idris reaffirmed the association’s commitment to advocating for the welfare and professional growth of government-employed doctors and emphasized the importance of partnership, dialogue, and collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to build a sustainable, equitable, and resilient health system for Nigerians.

Among those present at the meeting were Dr. Aina Oluwafemi (Chief Protocol), Dr. Ezekiel Ibrahim Ladan (Secretary General), Dr. Abiodun Ajayi (VP1), and other senior officials of the association.