Enugu NMA Hails Governor Mbah, Says State Health Workers are ‘Best-Paid’ in Nigeria—Strike Unnecessary

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State Chapter, today, Monday, November 3, 2025, took a stand against the ongoing nationwide industrial action by its affiliate, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), asserting that health workers in the state are adequately remunerated and that a local strike would be unjustifiable.

Speaking at a press conference in Enugu, Dr. Sunday Okafor, the Chairman of the NMA, Enugu State, publicly commended the administration of Governor Peter Mbah for prioritizing the welfare of medical personnel, positioning them as among the best-paid in the country.

“It is on record that in the country, Enugu healthcare personnel are the highest paid, and as a parent body, we cannot disrupt health services in those areas where the governor is actually doing well,” Dr. Okafor stated. “The issue of the strike is poor remuneration and welfare, so we don’t have issues with the Enugu State Government in terms of remuneration and welfare.”

The statement provides a stark contrast to the national mood, where the NARD’s indefinite and comprehensive strike over unpaid allowances and poor working conditions has severely paralyzed healthcare services across federal tertiary institutions nationwide.

The Enugu NMA clarified that they have allowed their members working in federal hospitals within the state to participate in the NARD national strike, as their grievances pertain to Federal Government obligations. However, they stressed that doctors and other health personnel in state-run hospitals have a moral obligation to remain on duty due to the significant improvements in their conditions of service under the current state administration.

Dr. Okafor used the platform of the 2025 Physicians’ Week and the maiden Enugu South-East Regional Health Summit to appeal to the Federal Government and other state governors to emulate Governor Mbah’s commitment to improving the welfare of health workers. He emphasized that resolving the issue of remuneration is the most effective way to address the frequent strikes, curb the dangerous migration of medical professionals, and safeguard the nation’s fragile healthcare system.

The NMA Chairman also hailed the Governor’s investment in health infrastructure, including the ongoing construction and operationalization of Type Two Primary Health Centres across all 260 electoral wards in the state.