By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system is on the brink of paralysis, following a 21-day ultimatum issued by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) over what the union calls the Federal Government’s failure to honour critical agreements affecting the sector.
At the 47th regular meeting of the Tertiary Health Institutions National Consultative Forum (THINCF) held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the union's National President, Comrade Kabiru Minjibir, delivered a scathing indictment of the government’s perceived insincerity.
Minjibir revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on October 29, 2024—with the endorsement of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—remains unimplemented. The MOU outlined a significant review of the retirement age for healthcare workers, increasing it from 60 to 65 years for general staff and from 70 to 75 for consultants.
He accused the Federal Ministry of Health of deliberately stalling the process, allegedly due to interference from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which he claimed is pushing for a discriminatory segregation between clinical and non-clinical personnel.
“Healthcare delivery is a collaborative effort,” Minjibir said. “Any attempt to undermine certain cadres by excluding them from the MOU is unacceptable. Our patience is wearing thin, and we will not watch this injustice continue.”
Beyond the retirement age issue, the union also condemned the federal government’s prolonged delay in implementing the consultant pharmacist cadre in public health institutions, despite a directive from the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
Warning of imminent industrial action, Minjibir declared:
“If no concrete steps are taken within 21 days, our members will embark on a nationwide strike. The consequences for public healthcare will be devastating.”
Responding, Dr. Robinson Onoh, Chief Medical Director of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki—host of the forum—commended President Tinubu’s efforts in sustaining salary payments and driving technological improvements in the health sector.
“We are working hard to introduce reforms that will reverse medical tourism and restore faith in our public health facilities,” Onoh noted.
Representing Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru at the event, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, reiterated the state government’s commitment to prioritizing health sector development and protecting the welfare of healthcare workers.
“Health is a cornerstone of this administration. Ebonyi is investing heavily in infrastructure and personnel welfare to deliver quality care,” Ekuma said.
The conference, themed “The Way Forward for Nigeria’s Healthcare System: Challenges and Opportunities,” attracted representatives from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Stakeholders expressed deep concerns that failure to address the union’s demands could trigger a paralyzing nationwide shutdown of hospitals, clinics, and medical institutions—compounding Nigeria’s already dire healthcare challenges.
As the clock ticks on the ultimatum, millions of Nigerians brace for what could become the country’s most consequential healthcare crisis in recent years, unless urgent intervention is made at the highest level of government.
