Kano Doctors Threaten Strike Over Welfare

Doctors in Kano State have threatened to begin a two-week warning strike on October 25 over the state government’s alleged failure to implement an approved salary increase and address other outstanding welfare demands.

The Kano chapter of the National Association of Government General and Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) warned that the industrial action would proceed unless the government addressed its grievances.

The association’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Ibrahim Gabari said the repeated ultimatums and an agreement reached with the government in June had failed to produce the desired results.

Gabari said the association had been demanding improved salaries since 2024, claiming that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf approved an increase but the Head of Civil Service had yet to implement it.

“Since 2024, our association has requested the Kano State Government to increase our salaries, and the governor approved it, but the Head of Civil Service has refused to implement it,” he said.

He also dismissed reports that the salaries of Kano doctors had been increased to match those of their counterparts employed by the Federal Government.

“Nobody increased our salaries,” he said.

According to Gabari, the association had held meetings with the state Commissioner for Health and issued an initial two-week ultimatum, warning that failure to address its demands would lead to industrial action.

He said the Head of Civil Service later invited the association’s representatives to a meeting towards the end of the ultimatum and assured them that their concerns would be addressed.

However, the association issued another three-week ultimatum after its congress, but Gabari said the government had yet to take action.

Beyond the salary dispute, the doctors are demanding the recruitment of additional medical personnel, payment of outstanding salaries and allowances, funding for residency training, improved medical equipment and better security for healthcare workers.

Gabari warned that the association would not tolerate further delays in addressing the demands.

He added that the association’s executive committee would meet after the proposed warning strike to decide its next course of action.

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