Posted on: Wed 16-07-2025

Nigeria’s health and medical education sectors may be headed for collapse, warns the Medical and Dental Specialists Association in Basic Medical Sciences (MeDSABAMS), as they call for immediate intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other influential leaders.

The association—representing top medical and dental academics in Nigerian universities—has condemned a recent directive from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), calling it “misguided, unilateral, and counterproductive.” The controversial circular, issued on June 27, 2025, allegedly undermines hard-fought agreements on allowances and salary structure, prompting a 21-day ultimatum from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

MeDSABAMS argues that the circular strips medical lecturers of key professional allowances while expecting them to train a growing number of medical students under worsening conditions. “It’s like placing the cart before the horse,” the group said, highlighting a severe lack of incentives, increasing workloads, and an exodus of professionals.

In full solidarity with the NMA, MeDSABAMS outlined a 19-point demand and seven additional proposals to salvage the sector. These include:

• Withdrawal of the NSIWC circular
• Immediate payment of outstanding CONMESS arrears
• Restoration of allowances for excess workload and specialized teaching
• Introduction of new incentives for lab work, research, and competency training

“If nothing is done,” MeDSABAMS warned, “Nigeria risks the total collapse of its medical education infrastructure. 

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