Doctors in Kwara State have issued a two-week ultimatum to the state government to address their outstanding demands, warning that failure to do so could lead to industrial action across public health facilities.
The ultimatum was issued by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) following a joint emergency executive meeting held on September 26, 2026.
The meeting considered several issues affecting healthcare delivery in the state, including salary deductions for the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme, known as KwaraCare, and the implementation of the 2025 review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
In a joint statement, the doctors expressed dissatisfaction with their September salary payments, which they said included deductions for KwaraCare despite unresolved concerns raised with the management of the state health insurance scheme.
They also faulted the state government’s failure to implement the revised CONMESS, noting that federal health institutions and other states had implemented the salary review for eligible doctors since January 2026.
According to the associations, they had submitted several letters to the government regarding the salary adjustment and the payment of outstanding arrears.
The doctors cited a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission on November 19, 2025, which they said provided for the revised salary structure and payment of arrears dating back to September 2024.
They added that the revised structure and arrears had already been implemented in federal parastatals and other states.
The associations maintained that their members remained committed to maintaining industrial peace and supporting the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
However, they appealed to the governor to address their concerns, particularly in view of the manpower shortages and increasing workloads facing doctors in state-owned hospitals.
Among their major demands is the immediate implementation of the CONMESS 2025 salary review for doctors in Kwara State, including payment of arrears in line with the relevant federal government circular.
They also demanded the reversal of deductions made from members’ salaries for the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme, which they described as unlawful.
The doctors further called for the recruitment of additional house officers, as approved by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), for the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH) and other tertiary healthcare facilities.
Other demands include the recruitment of more medical officers for general and cottage hospitals, additional resident doctors for teaching hospitals, and more consultants for state-owned teaching and specialist hospitals.
The associations also called for the renovation of house officers’ quarters in teaching hospitals and the establishment of a governing board for KWASUTH in accordance with the institution’s enabling law.
The doctors said the two-week ultimatum would run from October 1 to 14, 2026, during which the government is expected to take concrete steps towards resolving the outstanding issues.
They added that their members would reconvene before the deadline to assess the government’s response and determine the next course of action.
The statement expressed confidence that Governor AbdulRazaq would intervene to resolve the dispute but warned that continued industrial harmony could not be guaranteed if the demands remained unaddressed after the ultimatum expired.
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