By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has commended the Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), for releasing the corrected Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) circular.
MDCAN President, Prof. Mohammad Aminu, gave the commendation in a press statement issued to journalists in Jos at the weekend.
It will be recalled that in July 2025, MDCAN rejected an earlier circular by the NSIWC dated June 27, 2025, on the review of allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service, describing it as grossly inadequate, misleading, and a violation of previous collective bargaining agreements between the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Federal Government.
Prof. Aminu noted that the correction of the circular, which upholds the principle of salary relativity in the health sector, is a significant and welcome step towards honouring agreements reached with the NMA. He stressed that restoring relativity is essential in recognizing the unique demands and specialized skills of Medical and Dental Consultants and other doctors within the public service.
While commending the development, MDCAN urged the Federal Government to urgently address other unresolved issues contained in the NMA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Part of the statement reads, “The resolution of the CONMESS relativity is but one element of a broader agreement designed to address the systemic challenges plaguing the Nigerian health sector.”
He further stressed, “The continued delay in implementing these other resolutions is a significant source of frustration and disillusionment among our members.”
According to the statement, the outstanding issues include the immediate conclusion of due process for the increase in retirement age for medical consultants from 60 to 70 years and for other core healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years as approved by President Bola Tinubu. Others are the release of the January 2024 agreed Clinical Duty Allowance and other allowances for honorary consultants.
Additional demands listed by MDCAN include full implementation of the approved new Hazard Allowance for doctors in colleges of medicine, immediate payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), provision of adequate life insurance coverage for healthcare workers, and mechanisms to curb brain drain and improve hospital infrastructure.
The association urged the Federal Government to show the same urgency displayed in resolving the CONMESS issue in addressing the remaining aspects of the NMA MoU.
“A holistic approach is crucial to restoring confidence, boosting morale, and ensuring the sustainability of our healthcare system.”
The statement added that MDCAN remains committed to constructive dialogue with the Federal Government to ensure a swift and complete resolution of all issues in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the benefit of the Nigerian people.
