The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a 14-day warning strike notice to the management of the National Hospital, Abuja, following the termination of three medical consultants.
This decision was reached during the association’s Ordinary General Meeting (OGM), which took place on June 11 at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.
In a formal communication addressed to the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, the NMA FCT described the dismissal of the consultants as an act of “selective victimisation” and “scapegoating.” The union demanded the immediate recall of the affected doctors, who were allegedly kept on as Locum consultants for three consecutive years without proper justification, alongside 27 others serving in similar positions.
The letter conveying the ultimatum, bearing the title “Notice of 14 days strike ultimatum for vehemently refusing to reinstate our disengaged members,” was jointly signed by Dr. Ayogu Emeka and Dr. Usman Hafiz, who serve as Chairman and Assistant Secretary of the NMA FCT, respectively.
It explained that previous efforts to amicably resolve the matter through top-level engagement, including interventions by the national president of the NMA, Dr. Bala M. Audu, and senior members of the FCT branch, had failed to bring about any meaningful resolution.
The NMA FCT voiced concern that this development comes at a time when the country is already dealing with the negative impact of healthcare workers leaving the country in large numbers. They argued that the dismissal adds unnecessary strain to the system, exacerbates existing resource gaps, and places further psychological and financial burdens on the doctors still within the workforce.
The union noted in the letter that the doctors working at the National Hospital in Abuja would commence an initial warning strike from June 15 to June 29. Should the situation remain unresolved after this period, a full and indefinite industrial action will begin on June 30.
Furthermore, the association warned that if the dismissed consultants are not recalled within seven days of the indefinite strike at the hospital, all members of the NMA FCT chapter would join in the action in solidarity.
The letter partly stated: “Following our Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) held on 11th June 2025 at the VIP Hall of Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, it has become imperative to formally communicate the position and decision of the Supreme congress of NMA FCT Branch regarding the disengagement of our members who were casualized as Locum consultants for 3 years without any justifiable reason from the management of National Hospital Abuja.
“The Congress of the NMA FCT branch frowns at this sad development after extensively deliberating on the matter at our OGM, where members consider the action by NHA management as selective victimisation and scapegoating of three medical doctors (consultants) out of the 30 in the same category.”
The letter went on to recall how the union had made multiple appeals and visits to the hospital administration in an effort to seek redress, stating: “Sir, recall the NMA FCT made numerous entreaties and embarked on advocacy visits to the management of your hospital, appealing to it to reverse the sad and ill-treatment meted out to our members all in a bid to ensure harmonious working relationship and to forestall disruption of healthcare services to the good people of FCT and beyond.
“These included advocacy visits by the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Bala M. Audu, a high-level advocacy visit led by the Chairman of NMA FCT, and a high-level advocacy committee whose membership includes very senior doctors of enviable and reputable characters, so you reconsider and reinstate the affected members.”
The association also lamented that despite these efforts, no resolution had been achieved. “Despite all the peaceful approaches by the association, there has been no positive response or action taken to address this crucial issue,” it stated.
The union highlighted that the increasing number of medical professionals leaving Nigeria has already strained the nation’s healthcare infrastructure, and the removal of its members only worsens the challenges. “Among other reasons advanced by the various stakeholders that met with your management on this matter was the mass migration of Nigerian medical professionals abroad, which has further strained our healthcare system, leading to critical shortages and increased workloads for those remaining.”
The NMA added that the dismissals were already having negative psychological and financial consequences for other practitioners. “The disengagement of our members exacerbates these issues, contributing to deteriorating mental health and economic hardship among doctors. The stress of understaffing, coupled with the fear of unjust termination, has led to anxiety, reduced productivity, and financial insecurity among members.”
The statement concluded with a firm expression of disappointment over the lack of progress and an insistence on moving forward with industrial action. “It is with deep regret that we inform you that having exhausted all peaceful means without any positive result, the association is left with no other option but to initiate a two-week strike action notice starting from 15th of June, 2025 to mid-night of 29th of June 2025, following which members at the National Hospital Abuja will proceed on a total and indefinite strike action from the 30th of June, 2025, and if those members are not reinstated after seven days of commencing the strike in National Hospital Abuja, the entire membership of the NMA FCT branch will join them in a total and indefinite strike.
“We believe that this action is necessary to uphold the rights and welfare of our members, to ensure social justice in a nation where no one is oppressed, and to ensure a good working environment essential for the delivery of quality healthcare services.
“We urge the hospital management to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and seriousness it deserves to avoid disruption of services that will adversely affect patients and the health sector of FCT at large.
“We look forward to seizing this opportunity to amicably resolve this matter satisfactorily within the stipulated time frame,” the letter concluded.
What you should know
The NMA FCT’s planned industrial action reflects deeper systemic issues within Nigeria’s health sector, especially the treatment of doctors under precarious contracts.
As the country faces critical shortages due to mass emigration of health workers, the ongoing tension between doctors and hospital management may further destabilize healthcare delivery in the capital city.
