In a press statement issued on Thursday, the Chairman of NMA Lagos, Dr. Babajide Kehinde Saheed, said the meeting was convened in defiance of an earlier directive by the National Officers Committee (NOC) led by Prof. Bala Audu, warning members against participating in such an assembly.
The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has condemned a gathering of some doctors held in Abuja on April 22, 2026, describing it as unconstitutional and a threat to the unity of the association.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the Chairman of NMA Lagos, Dr. Babajide Kehinde Saheed, said the meeting was convened in defiance of an earlier directive by the National Officers Committee (NOC) led by Prof. Bala Audu, warning members against participating in such an assembly.
The Lagos branch declared that the meeting lacked legitimacy and does not represent the position of the association, insisting that any resolutions or decisions taken at the gathering are “null, void, and of no consequence.”
According to the statement, the Abuja meeting amounts to “a deliberate assault on the constitutional order, institutional integrity, and collective unity” of the NMA.
The association accused some of the doctors involved of prioritising personal political ambition over the welfare and professional interests of Nigerian doctors.
“It is highly unfortunate that certain individuals appear to be more interested in the desperate acquisition of political positions within the Association than in the genuine welfare, professional dignity, and advancement of Nigerian doctors,” the statement read.
The Lagos NMA also criticised what it described as selective activism, alleging that some of the individuals now pushing for leadership positions had previously failed to support efforts aimed at improving doctors’ welfare, remuneration, and working conditions.
“It is both shameful and disappointing that some of these same individuals remained silent when a few of us were consistently agitating for improved welfare,” the statement added.
The group warned that such internal disputes could undermine ongoing efforts to secure better remuneration for doctors at the federal level, stressing that attention should instead be focused on ensuring that gains made centrally are implemented across state levels.
The Lagos chapter further cautioned that actions capable of destabilising the association at a time when unity is required are “selfish, irresponsible, and dangerous” to the profession.
Referencing past internal crises, the statement noted that similar unconstitutional moves had failed at the state level and warned that repeating such actions nationally could have serious consequences.
It also urged those involved to study the historical evolution of the association, including the Benin delegates’ meeting which shaped the current constitutional framework of the NMA.
“No association can survive where rules are sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition,” the statement said, emphasising that the NMA constitution remains the foundation of its operations.
The Lagos NMA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare, dignity, and interests of Nigerian doctors through lawful and transparent processes, while calling on members nationwide to remain calm, law-abiding, and united.
SaharaReporters reported days ago that the Elegant Nurses Forum called for the immediate reversal of the alleged unlawful removal of the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Babajide Kehinde Saheed, while condemning the action as unconstitutional and politically motivated interference in trade union affairs.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, by National Coordinator, Thomas Abiodun Olamide, the group had said the reported removal failed to follow due constitutional procedures and may be connected to Saheed’s stance against policies perceived by health workers as unfriendly and imposed without adequate consultation.
The Forum had described the development as deeply troubling, warning that it undermines the core principles of trade unionism and professional representation.
