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FG Suspends Circular On Doctors’ Allowances

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The Federal Government has suspended the recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, reviewing the allowances of medical and dental officers in the federal public service.

The controversial circular, dated June 27, 2025, with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, drew widespread criticism from medical associations, including the Nigerian Medical Association, the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, among others.

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The NMA had on July 2 issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to withdraw the circular and meet its other demands to avert industrial action in the health sector.

The President of the NMA, Prof. Audu Bala, said the circular contains provisions that were not mutually agreed upon and which undermine the remuneration and welfare of medical professionals.

READ ALSO:Doctors Warm Up For Nationwide Strike

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The NMA warned that it will ground medical services nationwide if the government fails to meet its demands at the expiration of the ultimatum by July 23.

Speaking exclusively with our correspondent on Monday, the President of NARD, Dr. Tope Osundara, said the circular has been abolished for further deliberations.

Arising from the meeting chaired by Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy with his capacity as the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Salaries today, it was agreed at the implementation of circular with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, dated June 27, 2025, should be suspended to allow for further consultation with various professional associations.

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“So, it has been suspended for further negotiations,” Osundara stated.

READ ALSO:Ondo NMA Rejects FG’s Plan To Review Doctors’ Allowances

Earlier, the Federal Government held further high-level meetings with representatives of the NMA in a bid to forestall industrial action.

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The NMA President, Prof. Audu Bala, noted that the government appeared committed to resolving all concerns raised by the association and demonstrated seriousness during the discussions.

Also, a circular exclusively obtained on Monday by our correspondent dated July 18, issued by the office of the Executive Chairman of the NSIWC and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, the Honourable Ministers/Ministers of State, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and others confirmed the development.

READ ALSO:NMA Gives FG 21 Days To Avert Doctors’ Strike

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The circular numbered SWC/S/04/S.218/III/658 was titled, “Re: Review of allowances for Medical/Dental and other health professionals in the Federal Public Service.”

The circular signed by the Chairman, NSIWC, Ekpo Nta, noted, “Arising from a meeting chaired by the Hon. Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy in his capacity as the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS) today at 3:00 pm, it was agreed that implementation of Circulars Nos: SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646 and SWC/S/04/S.218/III/651 dated 27th June 2025 respectively; and SWC/S/04/S.410/VII/658 dated 30th June 2025 should be suspended to allow for further consultation with the various Professional Associations and Unions in the Health and Education Sectors.”

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JUST IN: FCT Head Of Service Is Dead

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The Pioneer Head of the Civil Service of the Federal Capital Territory, Mrs Grace Adayilo, is dead.

The late Adayilo reportedly died in the early hours of Monday, 1st of September, 2025.

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The Special Assistant on Media to the HoS, Anthony Odey, confirmed the reports to our correspondent in a short text.

“Yes, please,” the text message read.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Former Inspector-General Of Police, Solomon Arase, Is Dead

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Odey, however, gave no further details surrounding the circumstances of her death.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Grace Adayilo as the Head of the Civil Service of the FCT on the 6th of October 2024, with the appointment taking effect immediately.

She made history as both the first HoS and the first female HoS of the FCT.

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Before her appointment, Adayilo served as the Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statements have been made by the family or the FCT Administration.

 

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JUST IN: Finnish Court Jails Simon Ekpa Six Years For Terrorism Offences

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The Päijät-Häme District Court on Monday sentenced Nigerian-born Finnish, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism-related crimes and other offences, according to official court documents seen by BBC News Pidgin on Monday.

The 40-year-old former municipal politician from Lahti was convicted on multiple charges, including participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act.

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The court ordered that Ekpa remain in custody.

According to the judgment, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa attempted to promote the independence of the so-called Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through illegal means.

READ ALSO:Obi Disowns Photo-shopped Pictures With Simon Ekpa

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“He used social media to gain a politically influential position and took advantage of the confusion within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to play a significant role in it,” the court statement stated as reported by BBC News pidgin.

Ekpa denied all the charges against him.

The court also found that Ekpa was instrumental in founding and developing the separatist movement into a more organised structure, working alongside others.

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It was revealed during the trial that armed groups were established under the movement, which the court classified as terrorist organisations.

READ ALSO:Biafra: Simon Ekpa Released By Finnish Police After Hours Of Questioning

Ekpa equipped the groups with weapons, explosives and ammunition through his contact network. He also urged and enticed his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria,” the court said.

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The trial was conducted over 12 sessions between May 30 and June 25, 2025, with a panel of three judges unanimously delivering the verdict.

Finnish authorities arrested Ekpa in December 2024 on charges linked to terrorism.

He was held on probable cause and suspicion of publicly inciting people to commit crimes with terrorist intent.

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READ ALSO:PM Killed In Israeli Strike, Say Yemen’s Huthis

The alleged offences were said to have occurred between August 23, 2021, and November 2024, primarily in the city of Lahti.

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation also initially arrested four other men in connection with the case. However, charges against them were later dropped due to insufficient evidence.

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Ekpa, who previously served as a municipal councillor in Lahti, is widely known for his controversial role in the Biafran separatist movement.

His online broadcasts and social media activity have drawn both support and condemnation within and outside Nigeria.

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JUST IN: Doctors Issue 10-day Ultimatum, Threaten Strike

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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors issued a 10-day ultimatum to all relevant government agencies on Monday, warning that its members would embark on a nationwide strike if the demands were not met.

NARD disclosed this in a communiqué signed by its President, Dr. Tope Osundara; the General Secretary, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku; and Publicity and the Social Secretary, Omoha Amobi, issued after its Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting, which was held virtually on Sunday.

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In July, NARD had issued a three-week ultimatum, but in the interest of industrial harmony, the NEC granted the National Officers’ Committee an additional three weeks to engage with all relevant stakeholders, after which it would reconvene to reassess the extent of implementation of its demands.

In Sunday’s meeting, the E-NEC condemned the failure of the Federal Government to fulfil its promises, noting with dismay that a substantial number of resident doctors remain unpaid for their 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and the refusal to pay the outstanding five months’ arrears arising from the 25 per cent/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, as well as other longstanding salary arrears.

READ ALSO:Lagos Doctors To Begin 3-day Warning Strike

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It also condemned the government’s failure to pay the arrears of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance.

The E-NEC expressed displeasure over the unjust downgrading of the membership certificates of the West African Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, as well as the persistent non-issuance of membership certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

“The E-NEC condemned in strong terms the failure of the Kaduna State Government to honour its commitments to members under ARD Kaduna and Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, despite earlier agreements and signed Memoranda of Understanding. The E-NEC condemned the failure of the Oyo State Government to address the challenges faced by members of ARD LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho, despite an ongoing indefinite strike action in the hospital,” it noted.

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It, however, commended state governors who have demonstrated commitment to the welfare of doctors by paying the 2025 MRTF.

READ ALSO:FG Suspends Circular On Doctors’ Allowances

Meanwhile, the doctors said that if their demands are not met by September 10, 2025, they would embark on a nationwide strike.

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E-NEC, however, demands the immediate payment of the outstanding 2025 MRTF to all eligible resident doctors by the Federal Government, as well as the settlement of the outstanding five months’ arrears of CONMESS, alongside other longstanding salary arrears.

The Council also demands, “The immediate payment of the arrears of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance. The E-NEC demands the commencement of payment of specialist allowances to all doctors without further delay, given their indispensable role in delivering specialist medical care across the nation. The E-NEC demands that the MDCN immediately restore the recognition of the West African postgraduate membership certificates to their rightful status and calls on the NPMCN to commence without delay the issuance of membership certificates to all deserving candidates, in line with international best practices.

READ ALSO:FCT Doctors Begin Warning Strike Over Sack Of Health Workers

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“The E-NEC demands the immediate implementation of the 2024 CONMESS and resolution of all outstanding welfare concerns in Kaduna State, noting that the indefinite strike by our members has already resumed and will continue until these demands are met. The E-NEC demands that the Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde, immediately resolve the welfare concerns of resident doctors under the employment of the state government, particularly those at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho.

“The E-NEC urges all State Governors to prioritise the welfare of doctors in their state-owned hospitals and training institutions, ensure the timely payment of MRTF to their resident doctors, and take proactive steps to curb emigration while maintaining industrial harmony.

“The E-NEC extends the ultimatum by a final 10 days to all relevant government agencies to meet these demands. Failure to do so within this period (expiring on Wednesday, 10th September 2025) will leave the NEC with no other option than to embark on a nationwide strike action.”

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