By Ojoma Akor
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), under the leadership of Prof. Bala Audu, will host over 1000 doctors for its Annual General Conference (AGM) in Kano.
The National Publicity Secretary of the association, Dr. Mannir Bature, disclosed this on Friday during a briefing for newsmen in Abuja.
He said the association’s 66th AGM and Delegates Meeting (AGC/DM) will be held from Sunday, 26th April to Sunday, 3rd May 2026, adding that the theme of this year’s conference is “Bridging Research, Policy and Practice: Strengthening Nigeria’s Health System for Resilience and Equity.”
He said, “The conference is bringing together over 1,000 delegates from across the country in what promises to be a landmark gathering in the history of the NMA. The conference will serve as a high-level platform for robust engagement on critical issues shaping Nigeria’s health sector.”
Dr. Bature also said that the two-year tenure of the present national officers will end during the conference, and that a major highlight of this year’s conference will be the first-ever delegates’ election, following the recent amendment to the NMA constitution.
“With the delegate’s election system, accredited elected delegates from various states are now empowered to vote directly, thereby replacing the previous system where only state chairmen exercised voting rights.
“This new development represents a significant step toward deepening participation, internal democracy, inclusiveness, and transparency within the association, and also signifies the commitment of the NMA to progressive institutional reforms,” he stated.
He said deliberations during the conference will critically examine the state of health in Nigeria, with an emphasis on strengthening health systems for resilience and equity, improving training, mentorship, and retention of healthcare professionals, and leveraging public-private partnerships to expand access and improve the quality of care.
The NMA publicity secretary said that the outcomes of these discussions are expected to generate actionable recommendations to guide policymakers and stakeholders in advancing healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He added that some of the key achievements of the Prof. Bala Audu-led National Officers Committee (NOC) are the correction of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) Salary Structure, the review of professional allowances, the increase in the retirement age for doctors, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and the Medical Financial Assistance Framework.
Others include the universal applicability of CONMESS for university lecturers, the launch of the NMA Strategic Development Plan (2026-2030), the establishment of the Doctors Medical Aid Foundation (DMAF), the NMA national health summit, and the digital transformation of the NMA.
He further said that as the tenure of the Prof. Bala Audu-led NOC draws to a close, the association stands stronger, more strategic, and future-ready.
“The legacy of this administration is not only in the milestones achieved but in the enduring systems and reforms established for generations of Nigerian doctors. The future of medical practice in Nigeria has been secured through visionary leadership, unity, and purposeful action,” he added.
