A fresh 30-day ultimatum has been issued by Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to the Federal Government.
The doctors asked FG to resolve long-standing welfare and policy grievances, including unpaid salary arrears, promotion entitlements, and the reinstatement of five dismissed doctors
The demand was contained in a communiqué issued at the close of NARD’s 45th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference held in Katsina State from September 21 to 26.
The document was signed by the newly elected President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim.
The AGM, themed “Mitigating Health Worker Migration through Extra-Remuneration Incentives: A Strategy for Sustainable Development”, also marked a leadership handover, with Suleiman succeeding Dr Tope Osundara.
The doctors decried what they described as unsafe and exploitative working conditions.
The communique stated, “The AGM calls on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to develop and implement clear, healthy call-duty working hours for doctors. In the interim, members should desist from engaging in more than 24 hours of continuous call duty.”
Effective October 1, 2025, NARD directed members nationwide to stop exceeding 24 hours of continuous call duty in line with global best practice.
Among the outstanding issues raised were:
Unpaid arrears from the 25/35 per cent CONMESS review
2. 2024 accoutrement allowance and other outstanding salaries
3. Accumulated promotion arrears and corrected professional allowances
One-for-one replacement policy to ease workload from brain drain
The body also condemned the casualisation of doctors, the dismissal of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and delays in implementing the Medical Residency Training Act.
It further demanded recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates, immediate issuance of membership by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, and decentralisation of promotions and training.
Specifically, the doctors warned that the Federal Ministry of Health and the management of FTH Lokoja had 30 days to reinstate the five dismissed doctors or risk industrial action.
“The AGM demands prompt settlement of arrears from the CONMESS review, accoutrement allowance, and reinstatement of the sacked doctors within 30 days,” the communiqué added.
NARD urged the Federal Government to expedite work on a Collective Bargaining Agreement and complete the long-overdue review of CONMESS, which it said had stalled for over 16 years.
It also appealed to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to urgently address the welfare concerns of resident doctors at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho.
The association further demanded full implementation of CONMESS circulars across all federal, state, and private institutions, including medical schools and regulatory agencies.
On policy, NARD resolved to intensify lobbying of the National Assembly to secure adequate funding for the health sector in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
It also demanded the immediate implementation of special pension benefits for doctors.
