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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Ondo doctors issue Aiyedatiwa eight-day ultimatum over unpaid allowances, welfare

From The Punch · (51m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Ondo State doctors have issued an ultimatum to the state government over unpaid allowances and poor welfare conditions.
  • The Nigeria Medical Association is demanding the implementation of federal circulars on salaries and allowances, citing the departure of doctors due to 'Japa syndrome' and the resulting overload on remaining staff.
  • Doctors report working with obsolete equipment in dilapidated environments under an old salary structure, leading to stress and demoralization.

The Nigeria Medical Association in Ondo State is sounding the alarm over the dire working conditions and financial neglect faced by doctors in the state. For months, essential federal circulars concerning salary adjustments and accoutrement allowances, which have been implemented in other states, remain unaddressed by the Ondo State Government. This inaction, coupled with the non-payment of 2024 promotion allowances, exacerbates the already critical situation.

For months, the Ondo State Government has not implemented two key Federal Government circulars that affect our salaries and welfare – the first is Circular SWC/S/04/S.218/IV/876 of 19th November 2025 on the Consequential Adjustment of Salaries, the second is Circular SWC/S/04/S.218/III/572 of 26th July 2025 on Accoutrement Allowance.

— Dr Muyiwa AlongeThe Chairman of the Ondo NMA explains the specific federal circulars that the state government has failed to implement.

The exodus of medical professionals, driven by the 'Japa syndrome,' has left the remaining doctors severely overworked, performing the duties of multiple individuals. This intense workload, often in dilapidated facilities with outdated equipment, leaves them with little to no personal life and hinders professional growth. The association highlights that doctors are confined to their workplaces, sometimes as the sole medical personnel in entire general hospitals, leading to immense stress and demoralization.

These are not new requests. They are our entitlements. Our colleagues at the Federal level and in many other states have been enjoying these benefits for almost a year.

— Dr Muyiwa AlongeThe NMA Chairman emphasizes that the demands are legitimate entitlements that other medical professionals are already receiving.

The NMA has made repeated attempts to engage the government in constructive dialogue, presenting a detailed position paper aimed at revitalizing the healthcare sector. However, these efforts have been met with a deafening silence, leaving the doctors feeling neglected and undervalued. The current situation is unsustainable and poses a significant threat to the quality of healthcare delivery in Ondo State.

Because of the ‘Japa Syndrome, too many doctors have left the system. Those of us remaining now do the work of five people. Doctors in the state service no longer have a life of their own.

— Dr Muyiwa AlongeThe NMA Chairman describes the severe impact of doctor emigration on the workload of those remaining.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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