Health Crisis Looms as Doctors in Plateau Issue 7-Day Strike Ultimatum

The healthcare system in Plateau State is about to experience challenging moments as medical doctors across the state have issued a final 7-day ultimatum to the Governor Caleb Mutfwang-led administration. The joint action comes from the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) and the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD). In separate letters dated April 20, 2026, the unions warned that they will be “compelled to withdraw their services” by Monday, April 27, 2026, if their demands for salary adjustments are not met.

The Core of the Dispute
At the heart of the crisis is the non-implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). While the National Salaries and Wages Commission
released a corrected structure and revised allowances for 2025-2026, the Plateau State Government has allegedly failed to reflect these changes in the doctors’
paychecks.

The NAGGMDP Chairman, Dr. Luka Waden, expressed deep frustration in a letter to the Governor, noting that despite “constructive dialogue,” there has been no concrete action from the state.

The associations are demanding: 100% implementation of the corrected
CONMESS salary structure, full payment of all revised allowances entitled to members and immediate implementation of CONMESS 7 to ensure equity across
the medical workforce.

A Broken Promise?
The ARD President at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Elizabeth Kassem Azi, revealed that the current tension comes from a broken commitment. According to Dr. Azi, Governor Mutfwang had personally promised to bridge the remuneration gap during a meeting with the national medical body in January 2026.

Despite this high-level assurance, the doctors say they have seen no progress in over four months.
“This inaction has led to the exit of doctors from the state and the shrinking of an initially strained workforce,” Dr. Azi stated, highlighting a growing “brain drain” as medics leave Plateau for better-paying states or federal institutions. As at the time of filling this report, the association says the clock is running out for the Plateau State Ministry of Health.

The ultimatum expires at midnight on Sunday, April 26, and if the government fails to provide a “concrete timeline” for payment before Monday morning, all state-owned hospitals, including the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, will see a total withdrawal of medical services.

For residents of Plateau State, this means a looming period of uncertainty for emergency care and routine medical services unless the government acts swiftly to avert the strike