By Zainab Bakare
Medical doctors in Ondo State, under the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), have called on the state government to urgently improve their welfare and working conditions, warning that continued inaction could lead to industrial action.
The appeal is made by the state NMA Chairman, Dr. Muyiwa Alonge, in a statement on Monday, where he says doctors in the state are operating under severe strain due to poor remuneration and workforce shortages.
The association urge the government to implement two key Federal Government circulars affecting salaries and allowances, which it says had already been adopted in other states.
According to the statement, “For months, the Ondo State Government has not implemented two key Federal Government circulars affecting our salaries and welfare,” listing the consequential salary adjustment and accoutrements allowance directives.
Dr. Alonge stresses that these were not new demands but entitlements already being enjoyed by medical workers elsewhere.
The NMA lamented that many doctors had left the state due to the “Japa syndrome,” leaving remaining staff overworked and overstretched.
He says, “Because of the Japa syndrome, too many doctors have left the system. Those of us remaining now do the work of five people.”
The association also raised concerns about obsolete or unavailable medical equipment, describing working conditions in many hospitals as poor and unfit for effective healthcare delivery.
According to the NMA, several attempts to engage the state government on the issues have not yielded positive results.
Dr. Alonge says the association had submitted position papers and held meetings with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other officials, but “there is no evidence that this is being implemented.”
He added that letters were also sent on November 24, December 2, and January 8, without meaningful response.
The doctors demanded immediate payment of arrears, implementation of salary adjustments, clearance of 2024 promotion allowances, and recruitment of new medical personnel.
The association issued a deadline of Tuesday, April 28, 2026, warning that failure to act would lead to an emergency congress to decide on further steps, including possible withdrawal of services.
“We do not want to go on strike. When doctors strike, the people suffer. But the truth is that the system is already fragile and collapsing,” the statement warned.
The NMA urged the government to act urgently, stressing that dialogue was nearing exhaustion and immediate intervention was necessary to prevent further strain on the state’s healthcare system.
