Posted on: Mon 11-08-2025

7 Months Unpaid? What Nigeria’s Health Workers Are Planning Will Shock You!” — FG Scrambles to Prevent Nationwide Strike

Abuja, Nigeria — A storm is brewing in Nigeria’s healthcare sector as medical professionals threaten a nationwide strike over unpaid salary arrears and illegal deductions—and the federal government is racing against time to stop it.

In a high-stakes meeting held over the weekend, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare assured doctors and health workers that their seven-month salary backlog will be cleared before the end of August 2025. This comes after the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) issued a 21-day ultimatum, warning of an indefinite strike if their demands are not met.

But the tension is far from over.

Lagos Doctors Furious Over “Wicked” Salary Cuts

The Lagos State branch of the NMA has raised alarm over what it called “wicked, insensitive, and illegal” deductions from July salaries by the State Treasury Office (STO). The association says doctors in the state’s employ may down tools indefinitely if the issue isn’t resolved immediately.

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) had earlier embarked on a warning strike, only suspending it after government intervention. Now, all eyes are on whether the federal government will honor its promises and prevent a total shutdown of healthcare services.

To calm the waters, the Ministry of Health convened a roundtable with leaders from NMA, NANNM, and the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU). Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving the crisis and emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to healthcare reform.

“We are committed to restoring trust and ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services across the country,” Prof. Pate stated.

Stakeholders remain cautiously optimistic. NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, and JOHESU National President, Comrade Kabiru Minjibir, say the agreements reached could prevent the looming strike—if the government follows through.

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