Understanding The NMA Building Levy And The Agitation

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Posted on: Tue 18-12-2018
Preamble The Nigerian Medical Association is the professional body for all the Medical and Dental Practitioners. It was established in 1960 from the British Medical Associations when Nigeria got it independence from Britain.    Over the years, pressure Affiliated professional units have come up. Today NMA has the following affiliates; MDCAN, NARD, NADUS, AGPMPN, NAGGMDP, NDA, MWAN and now MedSABAM. The affiliates fight for their peculiar problems with full backing of the body NMA.    The NMA NEC consist of The Registrar MDCN, Registrar NPMCN, all states Chairmen and Secretaries, Committee Chairmen, Past NMA presidents, Past Secretary General, Presidents and Secretaries of Affiliates and now Presidents of Professional bodies like SOGON, ARIN, NCS and etc.    As it’s stated in the code of medical ethics in 🇳🇬 Nigeria, once a Doctor is inducted, he/she automatically becomes member of NMA. So, when people posed questions on social media like ‘is it mandatory for one to be member of NMA? ‘ I used to say the question should have been ‘is it mandatory for one to be Doctor?’ And sincerely, the question will be better answered by the individuals asking it. The medical practice in Nigeria is hinged on these tripod of MDCN, NPMCN and NMA as there will never be a decision by one without the other not knowing what is going on. When you hear of NEC decisions, it mean decisions taken in the presence of MDCN Registrar, NPGMC Registrar and all the officers mentioned above.   NMA LAND The NMA land is located in the most coveted Maitama area in Abuja. The Land was allocated to NMA during General Sani Abacha’s Regime. There have been several attempts to develop the land but that has not been successful. At a point, NMA entered into a contractual agreement with a construction company that NMA will be making payments in installments while the company will start building the NMA secretariat until such a time when the building will be completed.    Because of lack of funds NMA couldn’t keep to it own part of the agreement and the case ended up in court. During the Tenure of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai as FCT minister, the land was revoked because it is not developed. It took the coming of Sen. Bala Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) to allocate back the land to NMA. The case is now under out of court settlement. Obviously, NMA is under pressure to develop the land because of the fear that the land may be revoked again.   THE BUILDING LEVY During Osogbo’s NEC, the current NMA NOC presented their budgets and included the plan to start developing the land. Suggestions were made all in attempt to see how funds could be raised to start the building. There were suggestions that those doctors who are less than 10 years post registration should pay 20,000 naira while those 10 years and above should pay 40, 000 naira.    NEC Members cited examples of how MHWUN contributed heavily without grudges to erect the AYUBA WABA’s House that is now the pride of JOHESU in Abuja. There were also considerations that since the land is big and the area (Maitama) is an area where Skyscrapers are erected, that NMA can erect a Skyscraper which can  be name ‘Doctors house’ that will accommodate the Secretariat for all NMA affiliates rather than the individual affiliates having separate buildings.    The amounts to be levy, the modality of collecting the levy and when to start the collections of the levy were not fully discussed and agree upon. Discussions were deferred to Next NEC. Today in UYO, following intense and tensed discussion and critical analysis of issues which are better discussed during congress meeting. NEC took the following decisions;   1) That there should be a compulsory levy on all the Medical and Dental Practitioners in Nigeria for the purpose of building ‘Doctors House’ on NMA land at Maitama, Abuja.   2) That Doctors below 10years post qualification will pay 20,000 naira building levy while, doctors 10years and above post qualification are to pay 40,000 Naira as building levy.   3) All Payments for the building levy will be through MDCN.   4) Payment shall commence from today up till 31st December 2019 for those yet to pay, members are advice to plan and pay within the stipulated period.   5)The portal for both remits and MDCN will be open without any restrictions for members who don’t wish to pay the building levy now can pay for their annual practice license and make the payment for building levy when they are comfortable before 31st December 2019.   NOTE NEC decision: MDCAN, NARD, MWAN, NDA, NAGGMDP, AGPMPN, and MedSABAM Presidents and Secretaries, Registrar MDCAN, Registrar NPMCN, NMA State Chairmen and Secretaries etc… took these decisions.

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