The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government, issuing a fresh four-week ultimatum for the resolution of its outstanding demands and warning that failure to act could trigger a nationwide strike.
The Punch reported that the decision was reached during an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting conducted virtually on Saturday, following the expiration of an earlier 21-day ultimatum given to the government.
In a communiqué released on Sunday and jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association expressed concern over the slow pace of implementation of agreements and warned that industrial peace could no longer be assured beyond the new deadline.
“The association cannot guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four-week window if all its demands are not fully addressed,” the communiqué stated.
The doctors also instructed the National Officers’ Committee to begin making arrangements for possible industrial action should the Federal Government fail to address their grievances within the stipulated period.
NARD accused the government and several health institutions of neglecting commitments relating to doctors’ welfare, particularly the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and other financial entitlements.
A major concern raised by the association was the continued delay in the release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund despite repeated assurances from relevant authorities.
It also highlighted persistent delays in the payment of house officers’ salaries and other outstanding benefits in several healthcare facilities nationwide.
The association further decried the non-payment of arrears arising from the 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary adjustment as well as 19 months of unpaid Professional Allowance arrears.
“NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments,” the communiqué added.
The resident doctors also condemned what they described as the victimisation of their members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex in Ile-Ife, insisting that any form of intimidation or harassment would be resisted.
They additionally faulted moves by the management of the institution to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health facilities, despite an existing government directive abolishing the practice.
NARD also criticised the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital for allegedly failing to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty, describing the situation as detrimental to workers’ welfare.
The association warned that hospital administrations that fail to provide the entitlement should be prepared to bear responsibility for any labour unrest that may result.
Despite its grievances, NARD acknowledged progress in certain areas, including efforts to curb 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 exploitative locum appointments.
The association also commended some state governments and private tertiary health institutions for implementing welfare-related measures, such as paying Professional Allowance arrears, Specialist Allowance, salary adjustments under the revised CONMESS structure and disbursing the Medical Residency Training Fund.
However, it maintained that the Federal Government had been slow in fulfilling agreements previously reached with the association.
Among its demands are the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of all outstanding salary, promotion and Professional Allowance arrears, implementation of the revised CONMESS salary structure, stronger protection for healthcare workers against assaults, accelerated execution of the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement, and swift implementation of recommendations aimed at addressing excessive workloads and poor working conditions.
NARD said it would assess the government’s compliance with its demands during its National Executive Council meeting scheduled to hold in Gombe State in July 2026.
