The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara State chapter, has expressed concern that Kwara doctors are among the least paid in the country.

Chairman Suleiman Rotimi said this at a news conference in Ilorin yesterday organised as part of the activities for the 2026 Physician's Week.

Rotimi raised concerns over manpower shortages, poor welfare, excessive workload and alleged unauthorised salary deductions affecting doctors in the state.

According to him, some general hospitals have only a few doctors, forcing them to work long hours and increasing the risk of burnout. "The doctors are underpaid, overworked and over-deducted.

Some doctors have between N30,000 and N50,000 deducted from their monthly salaries, despite unpaid allowances and poor remuneration," he said.

The NMA chief appealed to the state government to address the issues urgently, saying: "Nigeria's doctor-to-patient ratio is about one doctor to more than 9,000 patients, with the situation worse in some parts of Kwara. "The recommendation from the World Health Organisation is one doctor to 600 patients."

On the ongoing industrial dispute involving doctors in Kwara, Mr Rotimi said the association had engaged the state government and other stakeholders but remains open to dialogue.