By Oluyemi Israel,
The Jigawa branch of the Nigerian Medical Association said that it had noted the departure of 30 doctors from state health services over the past five months.
The branch stated that it viewed the exodus as a serious threat to the capacity of hospitals and clinics across the state, and that it was calling for urgent measures to prevent further resignations.
Dr. Usman Haruna, the state chairman, explained at a news conference in Dutse that the association represented every doctor employed in government hospitals in Jigawa.
He said that the branch had urged Governor Umar Namadi and the state’s salary review committee to collaborate with the NMA on finding a solution.
Dr. Haruna said that the main reason for the departures was inadequate pay and allowances.
He said that neighbouring states and federal institutions were offering higher salaries under the CONMESS pay scale, while Jigawa’s allowances for shift work, call duties, and hazard pay remained insufficient.
He added that skilled doctors were therefore seeking more attractive offers elsewhere.
He reported that the departures had begun in February 2025 and had continued to the present.
He said that after an emergency meeting of the branch’s National Executive Council on July 10, the association had given the governor and the committee a two-week deadline on July 14 to submit a report recommending salary adjustments.
He said that five months after the committee’s formation, no report had been delivered and that resignations had continued to mount.
Dr. Haruna warned that as doctors transferred to neighbouring states and federal hospitals, local health centres were being left understaffed, which he said was creating a risk of patients’ needs going unmet.
He said that communities across Jigawa were now facing longer waits and reduced service levels.
He further explained that the salary review committee had been mandated to meet with NMA representatives, agree on revised pay scales, and report back to the governor within two weeks of its inauguration.
He claimed that although the committee had apparently completed its work long ago, it had not released its findings.
He said that without an official report, the state could not implement pay adjustments and that the exodus of doctors was unlikely to abate.
He said that the NMA was now calling on Governor Namadi to demand the committee’s report immediately so that pay reviews could proceed and doctors could be encouraged to remain in service.