By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government and issued a fresh four-week ultimatum, warning that a nationwide strike may become inevitable if longstanding welfare and professional concerns affecting doctors are not addressed.
The decision was reached at an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held virtually on Saturday, where the association reviewed developments following the expiration of an earlier 21-day ultimatum issued to the government.
In a communiqué released on Sunday and jointly signed by its President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, NARD accused the Federal Government and several health institutions of failing to honour commitments on the payment of outstanding allowances, salary arrears and the disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
The association expressed concern that, despite repeated assurances, the 2026 MRTF has yet to be released, while many House Officers across the country continue to experience delays in salary payments and other entitlements.
It also decried the non-payment of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary review arrears and the outstanding 19 months’ Professional Allowance arrears, describing the situation as unacceptable.
“NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments,” the communiqué stated.
The resident doctors also raised concerns over what they described as the victimisation of their members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, warning that the association would resist any attempt to intimidate, harass or undermine its members.
The association further condemned alleged moves by the OAUTHC management to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions, despite an existing government circular abolishing the practice.
Another issue highlighted by NARD was the refusal of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) management to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty.
The association described the denial of call meals as an anti-welfare practice and warned that hospitals that continue to disregard the entitlement would be held responsible for any industrial unrest arising from the situation.
While expressing dissatisfaction over unresolved welfare issues, NARD acknowledged progress made by the Federal Government in some areas, including efforts to tackle assaults on healthcare workers and the near-completion of reports by ministerial committees investigating workplace violence, excessive workloads, prolonged call hours, casualisation of doctors and abusive locum appointments.
The association also commended several state governments and private tertiary health institutions for implementing welfare measures, including the payment of professional allowance arrears, specialist allowances, salary adjustments under the revised CONMESS structure and the disbursement of residency training funds.
However, it maintained that implementation of agreements reached with the government remains slow and unsatisfactory.
Among its key demands are the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of all outstanding salary, promotion and professional allowance arrears, implementation of the revised CONMESS salary structure, improved protection of healthcare workers from assault and accelerated implementation of the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement.
NARD also called for the immediate submission, approval and implementation of recommendations by ministerial committees investigating excessive workloads and poor working conditions for doctors.
Raising the stakes in the ongoing dispute, the association resolved to extend its ultimatum by four weeks and directed its National Officers’ Committee to commence preparations for industrial action should the government fail to meet its demands.
“The association cannot guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four-week window if all its demands are not fully addressed,” the communiqué warned.
NARD said compliance with its resolutions would be reviewed at its July 2026 National Executive Council meeting scheduled to hold in Gombe State.
The latest warning comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of healthcare workers and the impact of poor working conditions on Nigeria’s already overstretched health sector.
With the fresh four-week deadline now in effect, attention will be on the Federal Government and relevant health institutions to determine whether urgent intervention can avert another nationwide disruption of healthcare services.
