Nigeria’s cost of living difficulties is approaching a tipping point, prompting the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to issue threats of industrial action. The NLC has warned that workers across the country will embark on a week-long protest to express their disapproval of the recent hike in the price of premium motor spirit (PMS). This comes at a time when the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced that it would commence an indefinite strike on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who had met with the body on Monday (and is billed to meet with them again today), expressed the House’s willingness to intervene.
One of the major concerns that has fueled the threat of industrial disruption is the increasingly shrinking welfare of workers following the removal of fuel subsidy, which the President announced on May 29. In June 2023, the NLC and the Trade Union CongressTUC agreed not to go on strike on the condition that relevant sub-committees established after the dialogue would implement palliative measures within eight weeks. Unfortunately, after five weeks, no significant progress has been made by these committees, which consist of representatives from both the government and labour unions. Analysts have recommended that the federal and state governments consider introducing CNG buses for affordable Mass Transit schemes, reducing PAYE for workers, and removing import duties on food to reduce the cost of living without undertaking conditional cash transfers, which would be inflationary. Last week, the President’s special adviser noted that the president has directed the review of the earlier announced N8,000 disbursement for 12 million households. In its case, the NARD claims that the set of demands it made to the previous government and for which it gave the new government an ultimatum two weeks ago have remained unattended to. The demands, which include the immediate resolution of six issues, the implementation of full CONMESS, domestication of MRTA/payment of MRTF, and a review of hazard allowances by all state governments, also sought the immediate reversal of the downgrading of the Membership certificate by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
Analysts note that there is beginning to be an alarming shortage of doctors in the country. Membership in NARD has declined from an average of 16,000 a few years ago to just 9,000 doctors. This exodus of medical professionals is primarily driven by the pursuit of better remuneration, opportunities for upskilling, and improved living standards in developed countries. Analysts say the situation is due to a combination of factors, including low disposable income and low budgetary allocation to the health sector. Nigeria’s health budget per person is only US$71, while the National Health Insurance Scheme covers less than 10% of the population.
