The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Dr. Aniekan Peter, has decried what he described as the Federal Government?s gradual transformation of medical personnel into modern-day slaves?forced to work without commensurate remuneration.

Speaking at a press conference in Uyo on Friday, Peter lamented that doctors are subjected to more than 72 hours of continuous work, yet receive meagre wages that can barely feed their families.

He expressed outrage over the recent review of doctors? allowances by the Federal Government, describing it as insensitive and a gross insult to the medical profession.

?We all know that medical personnel, anywhere in the world, are given a lot of preferences and incentives to work. But unfortunately, in Nigeria, doctors have gradually been turned into slaves.

?It may interest you to know that doctors work for 72 hours non-stop; they don?t go home, they don?t know the whereabouts of their children. They remain in the hospital, working, sometimes for over 72 hours. And at the end of the month, they go home with peanuts?money that cannot provide three square meals for their families, let alone buy a car or meet other needs.

?Gradually, the Federal Government has plunged us into absolute poverty. Just recently, there was a circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission proposing an increment in allowances for doctors, but the figures were so paltry, it was insensitive and insulting?, he said.

Speaking further, Peter also raised concerns about the disparity in the treatment of Nigerian doctors working abroad and those at home. He criticised President Bola Tinubu?s decision to send doctors to St. Lucia and offer them significantly higher remuneration while neglecting those serving in Nigeria.

?You heard that our President, Bola Tinubu, in his benevolence to other nations, decided to send Nigerian doctors to St. Lucia and to pay them N3 million, yet doctors working at home are earning a paltry N300,000. We are saying that enough is enough.

?This country pays one of the worst, if not the worst, salaries to medical personnel. That?s why Nigerian doctors are leaving for Ghana, Togo, Liberia, and Cameroon. Is it not shameful that doctors are resigning from Nigeria to work in those countries??

At the press briefing, Peter also presented a communiqu? issued by the state branch of the association, reaffirming support for the 21-day ultimatum already issued by the National Officers Committee of the NMA in response to the circular from the National Salaries and Wages Commission.

According to him, the state branch has rejected the circular on the review of allowances for medical and dental officers and has made further recommendations in addition to the 19-point demands presented by the NOC to the Federal Government.

The demands include: A minimum of 300% pay rise for all medical and dental practitioners; universal applicability of all salary adjustments and allowances across federal, state, private, and university medical institutions, immediate withdrawal of the June 27, 2025 circular on revised allowances for medical and dental officers, correction of consequential adjustments in line with 2001, 2009, and 2014 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs); recalibration of the relativity between CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures, settlement of all outstanding arrears of 25?35% CONMESS, clinical duty, and call duty allowances owed to medical and dental officers.

Peter urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to address the worsening welfare crisis facing doctors and prevent further exodus of skilled professionals from the country. (The PUNCH)

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