By DAYO ADESULU
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a fresh 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve long-standing welfare and policy disputes, including unpaid salary arrears, stalled promotions, and the reinstatement of sacked colleagues.
The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim, following the association’s 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference in Katsina State, held between September 21 and 26, 2025.
The AGM, themed “Mitigating Health Worker Migration through Extra-Remuneration Incentives: A Strategy for Sustainable Development,” also marked a leadership transition, with Dr. Suleiman emerging as NARD’s new president, succeeding Dr. Tope Osundara.
Key Demands from NARD
At the AGM, members expressed dissatisfaction with persistent issues undermining doctors’ welfare and Nigeria’s healthcare system, including:
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Unpaid promotion arrears and salary shortfalls.
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Non-implementation of corrected professional allowances.
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Over 16 years of delay in reviewing the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
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Excessive call-duty hours beyond international best practices.
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Dismissal of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja.
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Brain drain and casualisation of medical staff.
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Exclusion of house officers from the Civil Service Scheme.
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Decaying hospital infrastructure and failure to pay agreed pension benefits.
Effective October 1, 2025, NARD directed its members to stop working beyond 24 consecutive hours of call duty, aligning with global health standards.
The 30-Day Ultimatum
NARD’s communiqué gave the Federal Government and FTH Lokoja management 30 days to:
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Reinstate the five sacked doctors.
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Release corrected professional allowance tables.
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Pay all outstanding salary arrears, including arrears from the 25/35% CONMESS review and 2024 accoutrement allowance.
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Implement a one-for-one replacement policy to ease workload.
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Decentralize promotions and training processes.
The doctors also demanded that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria restore full recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates, and that the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria immediately issue pending certificates.
Policy and Legislative Push
Beyond welfare issues, NARD pledged to intensify engagement with the National Assembly to secure better healthcare funding in the 2026 Appropriation Act, while demanding immediate enforcement of agreed special pension benefits for doctors.
The association also called on Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to urgently address the welfare of resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho.
Why This Matters
The fresh ultimatum comes weeks after NARD suspended a five-day warning strike, following partial government action on the Medical Residency Training Fund. If unmet, the doctors’ demands could trigger another nationwide strike, further straining Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.
