The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government, giving authorities a fresh four-week deadline to address its outstanding demands or risk a nationwide strike.
The decision was reached during the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held virtually on Saturday, following a review of developments after the expiration of its earlier 21-day ultimatum.
In a communiqué issued on Sunday and signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association warned that it could no longer guarantee industrial peace beyond the new deadline if its demands remained unresolved.
According to the communiqué, the National Officers’ Committee has been directed to begin all necessary preparations for industrial action should the Federal Government fail to demonstrate satisfactory compliance within the stipulated period.
NARD accused the government and several health institutions of failing to honour commitments on doctors’ welfare, particularly the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and other benefits.
Among its key concerns is the continued delay in disbursing the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), despite repeated assurances. The association also decried the non-payment of House Officers’ salaries and outstanding entitlements across several training centres.
It further expressed dissatisfaction over the unpaid arrears of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary adjustment, as well as 19 months of outstanding Professional Allowance.
“NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments,” the association stated.
The resident doctors also condemned what they described as the victimisation of their members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, warning that it would resist any form of intimidation or harassment against its members.
The association equally faulted the management of OAUTHC over attempts to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions, despite an existing government directive abolishing the practice.
NARD also criticised the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for failing to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty, describing the development as anti-welfare. It warned that hospital managements that neglect the entitlement would be held responsible for any industrial unrest arising from the issue.
Despite its grievances, the association acknowledged progress in some areas, including ongoing efforts to tackle assaults on healthcare workers and the near completion of ministerial committee reports on 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, including payment of Professional Allowance arrears, Specialist Allowance, salary adjustments under the reviewed CONMESS structure and disbursement of the Medical Residency Training Fund.
However, NARD maintained that implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government has remained slow and unsatisfactory.
The association is demanding the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of all outstanding salary, promotion and Professional Allowance arrears, full 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.
It also called for the immediate submission, approval and implementation of recommendations by ministerial committees investigating excessive workload and poor working conditions for doctors.
NARD said it would assess the government’s level of compliance at its National Executive Council meeting scheduled for July 2026 in Gombe State.
