Healthcare workers in Kwara and Katsina begin warning strikes

Healthcare professionals in two Nigerian states, Kwara and Katsina, have commenced seven-day warning strikes due to unresolved welfare and salary disputes with their respective state governments.

In Kwara State, doctors from various associations, including the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), are protesting salary deductions for the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme (KHIS) and the non-implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). Demands also include the payment of accoutrement allowance arrears, increased recruitment of medical staff, and the establishment of a governing board for the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital.

In Katsina State, the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals—comprising nurses, midwives, and allied health workers—has initiated a strike following the expiration of an ultimatum. The workers are seeking improved allowances and salary adjustments to match federal standards. They have rejected previous offers from the government, citing discrepancies between approved minimum wage tables and actual payments.