By Tapre Timine, Bayelsa
Medical services across Bayelsa State may soon face serious disruption as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Bayelsa State branch, has announced plans to commence a seven-day warning strike from Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
In a notice released on Monday and jointly signed by the Chairman, Dr. Wilcox Izibeya, and Secretary, Dr. Umuwe Stephen, the association said the decision followed the Bayelsa State Government’s failure to honour its promise to implement a 25 per cent and 35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors in its employ.
The doctors, who convened an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) via Zoom on April 26, 2025, announced their disappointment saying that despite assurances from the state government, the new salary adjustment was not reflected in the April salary payments.
Earlier this year, the NMA had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Bayelsa State Government, which prompted a meeting with the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. At the meeting, government representatives pleaded for patience and assured the doctors that the salary adjustment would be implemented in April 2025, an assurance that led the NMA to suspend its planned industrial action.
However, after reviewing the situation, the association observed that the promise was not fulfilled, thus prompting the decision to proceed with strike action.
According to the communiqué, while the seven-day warning strike will see all state-employed doctors withdraw their services, federal doctors in the state will join in solidarity for the first 72 hours. The NMA warned that if the issue remains unresolved after the warning strike, it would escalate to a total and indefinite strike.
The association appealed to the public for understanding, stressing that the strike is necessary to press home their legitimate demands while also urging the Bayelsa State Government to act swiftly to avert a prolonged shutdown of medical services in the state.
“We hope that the Bayelsa State Government will act swiftly to forestall the prolongation of this strike action in the best interest of our patients and the general public,” the statement added.
