Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a fresh ultimatum to the Federal Government and state governments, demanding the immediate payment of outstanding salaries, allowances, and other welfare entitlements, warning that failure to address these demands could trigger a nationwide industrial action that would cripple the country's healthcare system.
The development follows a communiqué issued at the end of the association's May Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) and Scientific Conference held in Kano from May 31 to June 5, 2026, where NARD declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government over unresolved welfare, remuneration, and training-related issues affecting doctors nationwide . The association warned that it could not guarantee industrial harmony after a 21-day window period if the government failed to address its demands .
However, after the expiration of the initial 21-day ultimatum, NARD convened an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting virtually on Saturday, June 27, 2026, just hours before the ultimatum was set to expire . The E-NEC resolved to further extend the ultimatum to the Federal Government by four weeks to enable the full implementation of its resolutions . The association warned that it could not guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four-week window if all its demands were not fully addressed .
Among the 14 demands listed by NARD are the immediate disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors nationwide within 21 days . The association also demanded the establishment of a transparent and sustainable salary payment system for resident doctors to eliminate persistent delays in salary payments and clear all outstanding salary arrears .
The doctors further demanded the immediate payment of the outstanding 19 months' Professional Allowance arrears owed to doctors . They called for the settlement of salary and promotion arrears owed to doctors in several health institutions within 21 days, as well as the implementation of the reviewed CONMESS salary structure .
The association also demanded the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on Assaults against Healthcare Workers, including the development of a national healthcare workers assault prevention and response protocol within 21 days . Additionally, NARD called for the accelerated conclusion and implementation of the Medical and Health Workers' Collective Bargaining Agreement, as well as the immediate implementation of recommendations on excessive workload, prolonged call hours, casualisation of medical doctors, and abusive locum appointments .
The resident doctors expressed concern over the continued non-payment of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS upward review arrears owed to medical doctors . They also raised concerns over the welfare challenges facing house officers, including delayed salaries, unpaid arrears, and difficulties with internship placement and onboarding processes .
At the hospital level, NARD condemned the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for its continued refusal to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty, describing the denial as an anti-welfare practice and warning that continued refusal would attract appropriate action . The association also raised concerns over what it described as the victimisation of resident doctors at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, and condemned attempts by the hospital management to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions despite an existing government circular abolishing the practice .
The association further accused the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Motunrayo Omidiran, of delaying the issuance of letters of compliance to federal health institutions, a delay that has hampered recruitment efforts, worsened manpower shortages, and contributed to brain drain in the sector .
Despite its grievances, NARD acknowledged some progress made in areas such as ongoing efforts to address assaults on healthcare workers and the near completion of reports by ministerial committees investigating workplace violence, excessive workload, prolonged call hours, casualisation of doctors, and abusive locum appointments . The association also commended some state governments and private tertiary health institutions for implementing welfare measures such as the payment of Professional Allowance arrears, Specialist Allowance, salary adjustments under the reviewed CONMESS structure, and the disbursement of the Medical Residency Training Fund .
However, NARD maintained that the implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government remained slow and unsatisfactory . The association resolved to review the level of compliance with its resolutions at its July 2026 National Executive Council meeting scheduled to hold in Gombe State . NARD also mandated its National Officers' Committee to activate all necessary processes in preparation for industrial action should the government fail to demonstrate satisfactory compliance within the stipulated period .
The resident doctors stressed that they remain committed to constructive engagement with the government while reserving the right to take appropriate action should the issues remain unresolved . As the countdown to the expiration of the four-week ultimatum begins, all eyes are on the Federal Government to demonstrate concrete progress on the doctors' demands and avert a potentially crippling nationwide strike that would further strain Nigeria's already fragile healthcare system.
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