Officials of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) address journalists after a National Executive Council meeting in Abuja
The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has warned that poor remuneration and prolonged delays in implementing improved welfare packages are threatening Nigeria’s ability to train future doctors, as experienced medical academics continue to leave the country’s universities.
The association said the situation is undermining the quality of medical education and could worsen the shortage of healthcare professionals if urgent action is not taken.
The warning came while briefing Journalists in Abuja, at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of NAMDA held on July 6, where members reviewed the progress of negotiations with the Federal Government on the welfare, remuneration and conditions of service of medical and dental academics.
According to Dr. Nosa Orhue, president of NAMDA, negotiations over the renegotiation of the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement have remained stalled since April 9, 2026, despite repeated efforts by the union to secure the government’s response to its minimum demands.
He explained that the delay has denied members improved remuneration and critical academic allowances, while fuelling the continued migration of skilled medical academics abroad.
“The continued delay has caused the non-implementation and loss of payment of academic and professorial allowances, including Earned Academic Allowances and Excess Workload Allowance,” he stated.
“This has damaged the morale of members with the risk of brain drain (Japa Syndrome), with the consequent negative impact on the rate and quality of training of medical doctors for the nation’s health services and educational sector.”
The association said although the Federal Government’s plan to increase the number of medical and dental graduates is commendable, it cannot be achieved without improving the welfare of those responsible for training them.
“The desire of the government to increase the number of medical and dental doctors graduating annually… is not being aggressively followed up by ensuring that the remuneration and welfare of those to train such graduates are given the priority they deserve,” NAMDA said.
The union expressed disappointment that while the Federal Government had concluded agreements with several university-based unions, negotiations with medical and dental academics remained unresolved.
It also accuses the government of frustrating attempts to resume discussions on its demands.
Among its key demands, NAMDA insisted that medical and dental academics should continue to be remunerated under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), arguing that it reflects the unique nature of their profession and aligns with the Federal Executive Council’s 1990 approval on the remuneration of medical academics.
The association rejected the forceful migration of members above the age of 65 from CONMESS to the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), saying the move amounts to demotion, reduced earnings and pension losses.
NAMDA further criticised its exclusion from key policy decisions affecting medical academics, including the Implementation Monitoring Committee of the Presidential Needs Assessment intervention, and rejected the National Universities Commission’s requirement that medical academics must obtain PhD qualifications for career progression.
The association argued that fellowship qualifications already provide the academic and research competencies required for teaching and postgraduate medical education.
Despite its concerns, NAMDA commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for supporting improved remuneration for medical and dental academics and acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts to improve welfare for other university-based unions.
It also praised the government’s preparations against a possible Ebola outbreak and pledged the support of its members in strengthening Nigeria’s public health response if required.
To press home its demands, the association issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude negotiations, warning that failure to resolve the dispute could disrupt industrial harmony.
“NEC resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude negotiations with NAMDA and address the Association’s demands, after which industrial harmony will no longer be guaranteed,” the communiqué said.
NAMDA called on the Federal Government to urgently conclude negotiations, warning that improving the welfare of medical and dental academics is essential not only to retaining skilled professionals but also to safeguarding the future of medical education and strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
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