The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government and issued a fresh four-week ultimatum for the resolution of its outstanding demands, warning that it may embark on a nationwide strike if the issues remain unresolved.
The decision was reached during the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Saturday to review developments following the expiration of its earlier 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association said industrial harmony could no longer be guaranteed beyond the new deadline if the government failed to address its grievances.
“The association cannot guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four-week window if all its demands are not fully addressed,” the communiqué stated.
The association also directed its National Officers’ Committee to commence all necessary preparations for industrial action should the Federal Government fail to show satisfactory commitment to implementing the demands within the stipulated period.
NARD accused the Federal Government and some health institutions of failing to fulfil agreements on doctors’ welfare, particularly the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and other entitlements.
Among its major concerns is the non-release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund despite repeated assurances by the government.
The association also lamented delays in the payment of house officers’ salaries and other outstanding entitlements in several training centres across the country.
It further decried the non-payment of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary adjustment arrears and the backlog of 19 months’ professional allowance owed to resident doctors.
“NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments,” the association said.
The doctors also raised concerns over the alleged victimisation of resident doctors at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, warning that they would resist any form of intimidation or harassment of their members.
The association equally faulted what it described as attempts by the management of the hospital to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions despite an existing government circular abolishing the practice.
NARD also criticised the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over the continued non-provision of call meals for resident doctors on duty, describing the development as anti-welfare.
It warned that hospital managements that failed to provide the entitlement would be held responsible for any industrial unrest arising from the issue.
Despite the lingering disputes, the association acknowledged progress in some areas, including ongoing efforts to address assaults on healthcare workers and the near completion of reports by ministerial committees investigating workplace violence, excessive workload, prolonged call hours, casualisation of doctors and abusive locum appointments.
It also commended some state governments and private tertiary health institutions for implementing welfare measures such as payment of professional allowance arrears, specialist allowances, salary adjustments under the reviewed CONMESS structure and the disbursement of the Medical Residency Training Fund.
However, the association maintained that implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government remained slow and unsatisfactory.
NARD demanded the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of all outstanding salaries, promotion and professional allowance arrears, implementation of the reviewed CONMESS salary structure, improved protection for healthcare workers against assaults, and accelerated implementation of the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The association also called for the immediate submission, approval and implementation of recommendations by ministerial committees investigating excessive workload and poor working conditions for doctors.
It said it would assess the level of the Federal Government’s compliance with its resolutions at its National Executive Council meeting scheduled to hold in Gombe State in July 2026.
