The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a stern warning that its suspended industrial action will resume if the Federal Government fails to fully implement all agreements reached during recent conciliatory engagements within four weeks.
The decision was contained in a communiqué released on Monday after an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on Saturday to assess the government’s response to its 19-point demands.
NARD said the strike, which began on 1 November, was triggered by long-standing breaches of previous agreements, persistent delays in addressing critical welfare concerns, and the government’s failure to act decisively on issues affecting residency training, hospital infrastructure and manpower shortages. While acknowledging pockets of progress, the association stressed that several commitments remain only partially fulfilled or entirely stalled.
Among the unresolved items are accumulated salary arrears, unpaid allowances, manpower deficits, prolonged call duty hours, pension-related disputes, and structural challenges affecting resident doctors across federal and state health institutions. The association also raised concerns over the slow pace of action on special pension benefits earlier agreed with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 26 July 2025.
The communiqué cited lingering cases of unpaid salaries and allowance arrears in several tertiary centres, deteriorating infrastructure in teaching hospitals, and the urgent need to replace obsolete equipment and stabilise power supply in major facilities.
Partial progress acknowledged
NARD confirmed that the Federal Government had commenced payment of arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), with payments made up to December 2023. It, however, insisted that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) must promptly reconcile all omitted or failed payments.
The association also acknowledged progress on the payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance and welcomed directives from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) approving specialist allowance for resident doctors on CONMESS 5.
On the sacking of five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, NARD noted that a ministerial committee had submitted its report and stressed that implementation of its recommendations must begin within two weeks from 27 November.
It also referenced the recent federal advisory discouraging prolonged call duty hours and mandating consultants to take greater responsibility in service delivery. A Central Taskforce Committee involving major health stakeholders is expected to develop a national policy on duty hours and locum engagement within two months.
Fresh deadlines and demands
NARD issued a fresh one-month deadline for the transmission of all outstanding salary and allowance arrears owed to resident doctors in the Federal University Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo (FUHSTH), Federal Medical Centre, Owo (FMC), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, and University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), to the Budget Office and the Minister of Finance for immediate payment.
It further demanded the prompt activation of the Central Taskforce Committee on duty hours; correction of entry-level placement for newly employed resident doctors; revival of the stalled Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process; and full implementation of the one-to-one replacement policy to curb manpower shortages in federal hospitals.
While the nationwide strike has been suspended, the communiqué directed resident doctors in federal and state institutions with unresolved local issues to continue their industrial action until their managements or state governments make verifiable commitments toward resolving their concerns.
Strike suspended, but ultimatum stands
After extensive deliberations, NARD resolved to suspend the nationwide strike for four weeks to allow the government time to deliver on its promises. It warned, however, that the suspension would be withdrawn if the government fails to meet all agreed demands within the stipulated timeframe.
“The failure by the government to implement the aforementioned agreed demands fully will result in the resumption of the total, indefinite and comprehensive strike,” the communiqué stated.
NARD also extended appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, senior cabinet officials, the leadership of the National Assembly, regulatory bodies, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and the media for facilitating the conciliatory process.
This year’s action ranks among the longest and most disruptive strikes by resident doctors in recent years, significantly straining service delivery in critical federal health institutions.
