Lagos doctors reject FG’s new salary plan

Lagos doctors reject FG’s new salary plan

By Jeffrey Agbo

The Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has firmly rejected the Federal Government’s proposed salary structure for medical doctors, describing it as a serious threat to the nation’s already fragile healthcare system.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, the state NMA Chairman, Dr. Babajide Saheed, said the proposal undermines clinical responsibilities and disrupts leadership hierarchies in hospitals across Nigeria.

“After extensive review and consultations with stakeholders, we find the proposed structure deeply flawed and potentially damaging to the integrity of our health system,” Saheed said.

He argued that the plan ignores long-established salary relativity, which compensates for the advanced training, high-risk responsibilities, and clinical leadership associated with the medical profession.

“This is not a matter of superiority. As the late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti rightly put it, the hierarchy in health is not about ego but about responsibility. When you blur it, you destroy the chain of accountability,” Saheed stated.

He warned that abolishing relativity would lead to confusion over clinical leadership roles and weaken accountability structures in healthcare delivery. He also criticised the inclusion of specialist and honorarium allowances for non-doctors in the new framework.

“These allowances are specifically designed for clinicians recognised by accredited professional colleges. Extending them beyond that undermines the purpose of specialist certification,” he said.

Citing World Health Organisation standards, Saheed emphasised that specialist pay should reflect depth of knowledge, patient care leadership and exposure to clinical risk.

“Specialist remuneration must reflect clinical leadership, depth of knowledge, and risk exposure. This proposal completely ignores that,” he added.

The NMA also rejected the proposed equivalence between medical consultants and holders of academic doctorate degrees in other health fields, such as pharmacy and optometry.

“While we respect every healthcare professional, clinical licensure and patient care responsibilities are not the same as academic qualifications. It is misleading and professionally indefensible to equate a Doctor of Pharmacy with a certified medical consultant. No developed health system operates like that—not in the UK, Canada, or Australia,” he said.

The Lagos NMA declared its full support for the 21-day ultimatum issued by the national NMA leadership, calling it a necessary demand for fairness and reform in the healthcare sector.

“This ultimatum is not an act of aggression but a call for responsible dialogue and correction. We stand by all the demands, including the restoration of salary relativity and reversal of the unjust redistribution of allowances,” Saheed said.

He urged the Lagos State Government not to implement the Federal Government’s proposed pay structure until a professionally negotiated and NMA-approved agreement is in place.

“Lagos State has a reputation for healthcare excellence. We urge the government not to compromise that by implementing a flawed and divisive structure,” he warned.

Dr. Saheed also raised alarm over the worsening brain drain in the medical profession, noting that Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio is now around 1:5,000—far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended 1:600.

“Doctors are already leaving in droves. This structure will only push more out of the system. Behind every emigrating doctor is a collapsing clinic and a patient left behind,” he said.

He concluded with a call for constructive, evidence-based dialogue with the NMA to create a fair and globally competitive salary structure.

“We are not against reform. But any reform must be just, professional, and based on the realities of clinical work in Nigeria. This is about the survival of our healthcare system and the respect for those who carry its heaviest burdens,” Saheed added.