The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to address its outstanding welfare demands within four weeks.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued after the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Saturday. The communiqué was jointly signed by the NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim.
The association said it declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government following the expiration of an earlier 21 day ultimatum, warning that industrial harmony could no longer be guaranteed if its demands remained unmet.
“The association cannot guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four week window if all its demands are not fully addressed,” the communiqué stated.
NARD also directed its National Officers’ Committee to begin preparations for industrial action should the Federal Government fail to meet its demands within the stipulated period.
The doctors accused the government and some health institutions of failing to fulfil commitments on doctors’ welfare, particularly the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and other entitlements.
Among the unresolved issues, the association listed the non release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, delayed payment of house officers’ salaries, outstanding promotion arrears, unpaid Professional Allowance arrears spanning 19 months and the 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary review arrears.
“NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments,” the association said.
The resident doctors also condemned the alleged victimisation of members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile Ife, and opposed attempts to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions despite an existing government directive abolishing the practice.
The association further criticised the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over its alleged refusal to provide call meals for doctors on duty, warning that any industrial unrest arising from the situation would be the responsibility of the affected hospital management.
While acknowledging progress in addressing assaults on healthcare workers and the work of ministerial committees investigating poor working conditions, NARD insisted that implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government remained slow and unsatisfactory.
The association demanded the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances, implementation of the revised CONMESS salary structure, improved protection for healthcare workers and accelerated implementation of the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement.
NARD said it would assess the Federal Government’s level of compliance at its National Executive Council meeting scheduled for July in Gombe State.
