By Blessing Bature
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 industrial action.
The resolution was reached during the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting, held virtually on Saturday to review developments following the expiration of its earlier 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
In a communiqué issued on Sunday and jointly 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 harmony beyond the new four-week deadline if its demands remained unresolved.
“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 all necessary preparations for industrial action should the government fail to make satisfactory progress within the stipulated period.
The association accused the Federal Government and several health institutions of failing to honour commitments relating to doctors’ welfare, including the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and other benefits.
Among the unresolved issues, NARD said the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) is yet to be disbursed despite repeated assurances. It also expressed concern over delays in the payment of House Officers’ salaries and outstanding entitlements across several health institutions.
The association further lamented the non-payment of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary adjustment arrears and the outstanding 19 months’ Professional Allowance arrears.
“NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments,” the communiqué added.
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 they would resist any form of intimidation or harassment targeting their members.
The association further criticised the OAUTHC management over alleged attempts to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions despite an existing government directive abolishing the practice.
NARD also faulted the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for failing to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty, describing the situation as an anti-welfare practice.
It warned that hospital managements that fail to provide the entitlement would be held responsible for any industrial unrest arising from the issue.
Despite its concerns, the association acknowledged progress in some areas, including ongoing efforts to tackle 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.
