Posted on: Tue 11-11-2025

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), South-South Zone, has urged governors in the region to take urgent and decisive steps to prevent a total collapse of the healthcare system, which it says is currently on the brink due to worsening conditions in the sector.

The association also declared its full support for the ongoing indefinite strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), describing the action as a necessary response to the Federal Government’s persistent failure to address long-standing welfare and structural challenges in the health system.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its Zonal Executive Council meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State, the NMA South-South Caucus said all resident doctors in federal and state tertiary hospitals across the region had completely withdrawn their services until government demonstrates genuine commitment to resolving key issues, including unpaid arrears, unsafe work hours, and delayed promotions.

The statement, jointly signed by Dr. Diamond Tamunokuro, Chairman of the NMA South-South Caucus; Dr. Osoma Smith, Secretary; Dr. Aniekon Peter, Chairman of NMA Akwa Ibom State; and Dr. Izibeya Wilcox, Chairman of NMA Bayelsa State, lamented the deteriorating state of healthcare delivery in the region.

 

“These are very challenging times as the profession is not only encumbered with poor remuneration, human capital flight, insecurity, bad road network, electricity tariff hikes, and multiple taxation, but also the worsening scourge of brain drain,” the statement read.

 

The doctors warned that if urgent measures are not taken, the region’s healthcare system could face imminent collapse, leaving millions of residents without access to critical medical services.

They appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the Senate President, lawmakers from the South-South, and the six governors of the region to intervene swiftly and address the grievances of resident doctors to restore normalcy to the sector.

 

“We call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Senate President, all lawmakers from the South-South, the six governors from the South-South, and all well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and heed the demands of the resident doctors,” the statement added.

 

The NMA further stressed that continued neglect of healthcare workers’ welfare and poor working conditions would only worsen the exodus of medical professionals and deepen the crisis in the country’s already fragile health system.

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