By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its proposed strike after a heated meeting that lasted from 2:30 p.m. on Saturday to 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, resolving to give the Federal Government another 21 days to address their demands.
President of the NMA, Prof. Bala Audu, said, “The circular dated 27th June 2025 is grossly misleading and constitutes a flagrant violation of the spirit and letter of the agreements painstakingly reached during the collective bargaining process between the NMA and the Federal Government.”
The association had earlier rejected the new circular issued by the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission on reviewed allowances for Medical and Dental Officers, describing it as a breach of previous agreements.
After the ultimatum was issued on July 2, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, invited the NMA to a meeting to address their grievances. Another meeting was later convened on July 22 by the Minister of Labour and Employment with key government officials, leading to the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NMA on Friday.
However, sources disclosed that the NMA delegates were uneasy as the MOU was signed only by Directors, not Ministers or Permanent Secretaries, raising doubts about its weight. One delegate said, “No Minister, Permanent Secretary, including the Chairman of the Salaries and Wages Commission signed the MOU. The MOU was signed by Directors who cannot be held responsible.”
During the rowdy NEC meeting on Saturday, Prof. Audu told delegates, “I just signed an MOU today and you are telling me that we should go on strike the same day? I will not do that. It is better for me to step aside so that the 1st Vice President can take over.” He later stepped aside briefly before elders intervened.
A vote was eventually taken, and those against the strike outnumbered those in favour, leading to the decision to suspend the strike while giving the government another 21 days to meet their demands.