Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has accused the federal government of attempt to plunge members into abject poverty and slavery by subjecting them to work over 72 hours without commensurate pay.

The NMA Chairman, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Dr Aniekan Peter who made the claims at a press conference in Uyo, regretted that Nigeria pays the least salary to doctors in the world, noting that Nigerian doctors now run to Ghana, Togo, Liberia even Cameroon to practice where they are taken care of.

He said, “Nigeria pays one of the worst, if not the worst salary to doctors and that’s why you see Nigerian doctors running to Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Cameroon for survival. Is it not a shame that in Nigeria doctors are resigning to work in Ghana, Togo, Benin, Republic? Not even USA, UK?

“So gradually the federal government has pushed doctors into absolute poverty. We have been trying to engage the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria led by our president, Bola Tinubu, through our National officers’ Committee NOC, unfortunately, a lot of the things have always been promissory.”

Peter who lamented the rate of brain drain in the health sector said out of 85,000 registered medical practitioners in Nigeria, only 55,000 is left and called on the federal government to employ more medical personnel, improve their welfare package and equip health facilities to address the issue.

He also expressed concern that despite the Federal Government’s inability to cater for the welfare needs of its doctors, President Tinubu has decided to send Nigerian Doctors to St Lucia and the government is to pay them N3 million while doctors back home are taking home a paltry N300,000 only.

He stressed, “as Nigerian doctors we are saying that what is good for the goose is good for the gander.”

Reading a communique endorsed by the chapter sectary Dr Edesiri Ighorodje at the end of an emergency extraordinary general meeting in Uyo; Peter hinted at the 21-day ultimatum already issued by the National Officer Committee of the association in response to circular from the National Salaries and Wages Commission.

He said the association in the state had rejected the circular on the review of allowances for Medical and Dental Officers and had made some modifications in addition to the 19-point demands presented by the NOC to the Federal Government.

He listed the demands to include: ”Improvement of the living minimum wage with at least 300%pay rise for all medical and dental practitioners, universal applicability of all salary adjustments and allowances for medical and dental practitioners in state MDAs, private sector and the universities and immediate withdrawal of the circular on review of allowances for medical dental officers in the Federal Public Service dated 27 June 2025.

Other demands according to the chairman include: “Immediate correction of consequential adjustments in line with the agreements of 2001,2009, and 2014 CBAs, immediate correction of the relativity agreement between CONMESS and CONHESS and immediate settlement of all outstanding areas of 25-35%CONMESS,clinical duty and accruement allowances owed to medical and dental practitioners”

Peter expressed fear that if their demands are not met the health sector will continue to suffer as many health officers are ready to leave Nigeria for greener pastures.

A Fulani youth leader in Plateau State, Hamisu Garba, has insisted that any attempt by natives to forcefully intimidate and chase them out of the state will not work as they are also citizens of the state.

Hamisu, who spoke to Ekwutosblog in an exclusive interview, said he and most Fulani people were born and raised in Plateau State and they do not know any other place apart from the state and as such, are from Plateau going by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which makes it clear that one can claim state of origin where he was born.

Hamisu wondered why some certain people were vehemently bent and concentrating efforts in seeing that Fulani people are exterminated and sent packing from Plateau, noting that such attempts will be resisted.

“I, like many other Fulani people, are also part of Plateau State and efforts, or should I say attempts to intimidate, frustrate and chase us out of Plateau will not work,” Hamisu said.

“I was born in Plateau State, I have my indigene form duly signed by both my district head and local government chairman which makes me a bona fide citizen of Plateau State.

“My parents were born in Plateau State and all my siblings were born and raised in Plateau State.

“All my life, I have lived in Plateau, I went to primary, secondary and university in Plateau State.

“The longest I have been out of Plateau was when I went for my youth service in Enugu State. So tell me, why would anyone say I am not from the state?

“So if anyone says we should leave Plateau, where do they want us to go? Is it a crime that we are Fulanis? Why are some people always profiling us as criminals and trouble makers?

“Yes, I agree that there are criminal elements among our people and just like our Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang said sometime ago, there are also criminals in other tribes.

“There are Mwaghavul criminals; there are Berom criminals; there are Tarok criminals; there are Ngas criminals; there are Irigwe criminals; there are Mupun criminals and there are Fulani criminals.

“But everyone is only concentrating on the Fulani, putting all efforts at demonizing and profiling all of us as criminals. I agree that some herders do go out of their way to cause problems but that does not mean all of them do that.

The Delta State government said it has gotten enough evidence from protesters that would help in its investigation of alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi, Emmanuel Efeizomor.

The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Edwin Uzor, leading the inquiry process, confirmed he has received evidential testimonies from some of the aggrieved persons; majority of whom are widows.

While addressing Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative, ADI, which had earlier protested over the matter but soft-pedalled following appeal by the leadership of the State House of Assembly, he said his office has commenced investigative inquiry into the matter.

He assured that the state government would speed up investigation with a view to resolving the crisis and come up with a peaceful resolution.

While enjoining the aggrieved parties to sheath their swords, he assured that the state government would get to the root of the matter. He said the administration of Hon Sheriff Oborevwori was irrevocably committed to ensuring that no Deltan is victimized by anyone on the account of his or her financial or social status.

He enjoined the youths in the community to give the state government the benefits of the doubts by remaining peaceful and calm.

Addressing the over hundred persons, all of whom are indigenes of Owa Kingdom, Uzor said, “we have gotten enough evidence from you that would help us in our investigation process.

“I want to commend you for your peaceful disposition so far. Meanwhile, we wish to appeal that you continue to maintain the existing peace even as we continue in our investigation”.

However, Chairman, Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative, Ogha-ni-ihun Oyibu, Benson Nkeki said the group had decided to embark on a wide protest against the monarch and the palace over alleged high-handedness, bothering largely on land grabbing and forcefully dispossessing land owners of their lands under false pretense.

He said the meeting was an aftermath of the group’s protest on the alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi Emmanuel Efeizomor.

Nkeki assured that following the intervention by the state government vis-a-vis the ongoing investigative inquiry into the allegation, the group is committed to giving the state government the benefits of the doubts.

“As law abiding citizens, we are prepared to give the state government the benefit of the doubts. If things are not done the way it should, we will continue with our protest even to the National Assembly level and beyond” Nkeki said.