The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on the Federal Government to stay committed to the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process, describing it as the most effective pathway to achieving lasting harmony in the health sector.
In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Mannir Bature, the NMA said the CBA framework remains the appropriate, lawful and structured platform for addressing issues of remuneration, welfare and industrial relations in a holistic and inclusive manner.
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According to the association, the process provides an opportunity to develop sustainable solutions with all critical stakeholders adequately represented.
The NMA cautioned against piecemeal or pressure-driven interventions, warning that such approaches would not deliver enduring industrial peace in the health sector. It stressed that meaningful progress requires comprehensive engagement, good-faith negotiations, respect for existing agreements and adherence to clearly defined professional roles.
The association also highlighted the need for the rationalisation of the health workforce to improve efficiency, service delivery and patient outcomes.
It noted that several ancillary and support services outside core clinical functions could be better managed through structured outsourcing, a move it said would reduce redundancy, optimise limited resources and improve value for money in healthcare delivery.
The NMA further urged policymakers to prioritise the retention and motivation of frontline clinical workers, particularly doctors and nurses, who bear primary responsibility for patient care and clinical decision-making.
Clarifying recent comments by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), the NMA said there was no upgrade of the salary structure in 2014. It explained that what occurred was merely a correction of longstanding distortions in its application, warning that portraying it otherwise could fuel inter-professional discord.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to constructive dialogue, transparency and cooperation in the interest of healthcare workers and Nigerians.
