The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Abuja on Thursday called on the Federal Government to review the remuneration of medical practitioners.
Dr Osahon Enabulele, President of the association, made the call during a courtesy call on Dr Richard Egbule, the Chairman National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission(NSIWC).
Enabulelesaid there were mistakes in the new consolidated salary structure of medical practitioners that needed to be review and corrected.
He said that Nigerian medical professionals, practicingabroad were not encouraged to come home due to the poor remuneration of doctors in the country.
“The fundamental reason we are here is to have a pro-active engagement with NSIWC and to engage the government as partner in ensuring that all issues disturbing both parties are legitimately resolved.
“Right now, the current salary structure for doctors, reflect a lot of errors of omission which was quite different from the collective agreement we heard in our dialogue with the government.
?“We want the government to correct the salary structure of medical practitioners especially with respect to wrong conversion and wrong entry level and relativity in the salary structure.
“These are some of the issues we think should be brought before the government for urgent attention,’’ Enabulele said.
In his response, Egbule said that the commission did not undertake negotiation on salary review, rather it present facts to help negotiating parties reach implementable agreement.
He said the Ministry of Health was better placed to negotiate with the doctors, stressing that the medical profession had enjoyed more than any other professions in terms of employment and salary increase.
Egbuleappealed to the doctors to dialogue with the government to get what they want instead of engaging in strike.
“The transformation agenda of Mr President cannot be achieved without a stable health sector and you should use your profession in ensuring that the transformation takes place.
“You should be mindful in the pursuit of the welfare of your members in the state and private sector as well as in the federal level by making sure there is equity,’’ Egbule said.
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