CONMESS Was Corrected, Not Upgraded – NMA Tells Labour
NMA Rejects Claims of Doctors’ Pay Upgrade
THE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has firmly rejected claims by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) that medical doctors benefited from a salary upgrade, describing the allegation as false, misleading and capable of worsening industrial tensions within the health sector.
Addressing journalists in Gusau, Zamfara State, the National Publicity Secretary of the NMA, Dr. Mannir Bature, said organised labour’s claims regarding an alleged upgrade of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in 2014 were inaccurate and lacked factual basis.
‘Correction, Not Upgrade’
According to the association, what took place in 2014 was not an upgrade of CONMESS but a correction of long-standing distortions in the implementation of the salary framework. The NMA explained that the correction was carried out in line with previously approved government directives and existing public service rules.
“The NMA wishes to unequivocally clarify that there was no upgrade of CONMESS whatsoever as falsely claimed,” Bature said. “What occurred was a correction of a long-standing error in the application of the CONMESS framework, which had persisted despite clear approvals.”
He stressed that restoring the salary structure to its originally approved position could not, by any technical or administrative standard, be described as preferential treatment.
Concerns Over JOHESU Strike Ultimatum
The clarification comes amid an ultimatum issued by the NLC and TUC over the ongoing nationwide strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), which has disrupted healthcare services across the country.
The NMA expressed concern that presenting the correction of CONMESS as a special concession to doctors could fuel unnecessary inter-professional rivalry at a time when Nigeria’s health system is under severe strain.
Call for Responsible Engagement
The association also faulted what it described as the confrontational tone adopted by organised labour, urging restraint in public communications on sensitive salary issues.
“The issuance of public ultimatums on a matter that requires technical verification and institutional engagement is counterproductive,” Bature said, calling on labour leaders to avoid misinformation capable of inflaming tensions among health workers.
Way Forward for the Health Sector
The NMA urged the Federal Government to remain committed to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process as the legitimate avenue for resolving industrial disputes in the health sector.
It also called for workforce rationalisation that prioritises frontline healthcare delivery, recommending improved incentives for doctors and nurses while advocating structured outsourcing of non-core support services to enhance efficiency.
Reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and transparency, the NMA said inter-professional harmony remained essential to safeguarding patient care and public confidence in the health system.
