The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has reiterated that its ongoing nationwide strike is driven by longstanding issues affecting the healthcare system, insisting that its 19-point demand to the Federal Government is neither new nor unreasonable.
In a statement signed by the association’s President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim, NARD said the strike, which commenced on Saturday across 91 federal and state tertiary hospitals, was triggered by years of unpaid arrears, withheld allowances and poor working conditions.
The association said it felt compelled to clarify its position following a recent statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on efforts to address doctors’ welfare.
“Our demands have been consistently tabled before the Federal Government. They are not new, and they are certainly not excessive,” the statement read.
“They represent the minimum requirements for a functional healthcare system and the restoration of dignity to medical practice in Nigeria.”
NARD maintained that arrears owed to doctors over the past five years, including the 25/35 percent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, accoutrement allowance, promotion and upgrade arrears, and other entitlements, were yet to be fully paid.
It also faulted what it described as irregularities in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System and delays in implementing promotions and salary adjustments.
“While government claims over N30bn was released to offset arrears owed health workers, doctors received only a fraction. Many resident doctors still have not received the full payment of the CONMESS review arrears,” NARD stated.
The association expressed worry over worsening manpower shortages, stating that the number of resident doctors in Nigeria has dropped sharply due to mass migration and poor working conditions.
“A decade ago, we had up to 16,000 resident doctors. Today, barely 9,000 remain, despite rising disease burden,” it noted.
“Poor remuneration, unsafe workplaces, and delayed salaries continue to drive the ‘Japa’ syndrome.”
NARD also stressed that the Medical Residency Training Fund recently disbursed, should not be treated as a government favour but as a statutory entitlement that must be paid promptly and reviewed regularly.
The association condemned the continued dismissal of some doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, calling the situation “insensitive” at a time when the country is grappling with severe shortages of medical personnel.
It also demanded the inclusion of resident doctors providing specialist services among beneficiaries of specialist allowances and called for a review of salary relativity and workload compensation.
NARD emphasized that the strike was not aimed at punishing the public.
“This strike is not against Nigerians,” the doctors said.
“It is for the survival of our colleagues, our patients, and the healthcare system itself. Industrial harmony cannot be achieved through press statements but through sincerity, justice, and respect for agreements.”
The association expressed readiness for negotiation but insisted that talks must produce verifiable action, not promises.
