The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a 30-day ultimatum to resolve lingering welfare and policy grievances affecting its members, warning that failure to act could trigger renewed industrial action.
The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué signed on Sunday by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim. It followed the association’s 45th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, held in Katsina State between September 21 and 26.
Among the association’s key demands are the payment of outstanding salary arrears, release of accumulated promotion entitlements, implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and reinstatement of five doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja. NARD also pressed for immediate settlement of corrected professional allowances, arrears from the 25/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review, and the 2024 accoutrement allowance.
The group condemned unsafe and excessive call-duty schedules, directing members from October 1, 2025, to refrain from working beyond 24 consecutive hours, in line with international best practices. It urged the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to establish clear regulations on doctors’ working hours.
NARD further expressed concern over worsening brain drain, deteriorating hospital infrastructure, and the casualisation of medical professionals. It demanded the inclusion of house officers in the Civil Service Scheme, prompt salary payments, implementation of specialist allowances, and decentralisation of promotion and training processes.
The communiqué rejected the creation of consultant cadres for non-medical doctors and criticised the downgrading of postgraduate membership recognition. It called on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to restore recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates and urged the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to expedite issuance of membership certificates to qualified candidates.
On state-level matters, NARD appealed to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to address outstanding welfare concerns of resident doctors at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho.
The AGM, themed “Mitigating Health Worker Migration through Extra-Remuneration Incentives: A Strategy for Sustainable Development”, also marked a leadership transition, with Dr. Suleiman succeeding Dr. Tope Osundara as president.
The association pledged continued engagement with the National Assembly to push for improved healthcare funding in the 2026 Appropriation Act. It warned, however, that if its demands were not met within the 30-day window, it would be compelled to reconsider industrial action.
