By Akpos Oje
Medical and Dental Consultants in Nigeria have given the Federal Government until August to settle outstanding salary arrears and clinical duty allowances, warning that the growing frustration among doctors could spark unrest in the health sector.
The ultimatum, issued by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), highlights unpaid salary arrears from January to July 2023 under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), along with withheld clinical duty allowances.
The warning comes amid ongoing discussions by the Federal Government to increase the retirement age for medical and dental consultants from 60 to 70 years. A multi-stakeholder committee set up to review the proposal has submitted an initial report and is scheduled to meet again on July 7 to finalize its recommendations.
The committee includes representatives from MDCAN, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU). Its mandate is to prepare a policy memo recommending the retirement age extension for senior consultants.
The Ministry of Health has also contributed its input, and both reports will be jointly reviewed during the upcoming meeting. If approved, the final recommendation will be forwarded to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation for further evaluation, and possibly included in the agenda of the National Council on Establishment, which may convene later in July.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier approved an increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 for doctors and health workers in February. The new plan targets an additional five-year extension specifically for consultants to help retain their expertise in the public health system.
