The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government and issued a fresh four-week ultimatum, warning that a nationwide strike may become unavoidable if longstanding welfare and professional concerns affecting resident doctors are not urgently addressed.
The decision was reached during an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held virtually on Saturday, where the association reviewed developments following the expiration of its earlier 21-day ultimatum to the government.
In a communiqué released 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 accused the Federal Government and several health institutions of failing to fulfil commitments relating to the payment of outstanding allowances, salary arrears, and the release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
The association expressed disappointment that, despite repeated assurances from the government, the 2026 MRTF has not been disbursed, while many House Officers across the country continue to experience delays in receiving their salaries and other entitlements.
NARD also condemned the continued non-payment of the 25/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review arrears and the outstanding 19 months’ Professional Allowance arrears, describing the prolonged delays as unacceptable.
According to the communiqué, “NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments.”
The resident doctors also raised concerns over what they described as the victimisation of their members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, warning that the association would resist any attempt to intimidate, harass, or undermine its members.
The association further criticised the alleged move by the OAUTHC management to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions despite an existing government circular abolishing the practice.
Another issue highlighted by NARD was the refusal of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) management to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty.
The association described the denial of call meals as an anti-welfare policy and warned that hospitals that continue to ignore the entitlement would be held responsible for any industrial unrest arising from the situation.
While expressing dissatisfaction over unresolved welfare issues, NARD acknowledged progress made by the Federal Government in some areas, particularly efforts to address assaults on healthcare workers and the near completion of reports by ministerial committees investigating workplace violence, excessive workloads, prolonged call hours, casualisation of doctors, and abusive locum appointments.
The association also commended several state governments and private tertiary health institutions for implementing welfare improvements, including the payment of professional allowance arrears, specialist allowances, revised CONMESS salary adjustments, and the disbursement of residency training funds.
However, NARD maintained that the overall implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government remains slow and unsatisfactory.
Among its key demands are the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of all outstanding salary, promotion and professional allowance arrears, implementation of the revised CONMESS salary structure, improved protection of healthcare workers against assault, and accelerated implementation of the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The association also called for the immediate submission, approval, and implementation of recommendations made by ministerial committees investigating excessive workloads and poor working conditions affecting doctors.
As part of its resolutions, NARD extended its ultimatum by another four weeks and directed its National Officers’ Committee to begin preparations for industrial action if the government fails to address its demands within the stipulated period.
The communiqué warned, “The association cannot guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four-week window if all its demands are not fully addressed.”
NARD said compliance with its resolutions will be reviewed during its July 2026 National Executive Council meeting scheduled to hold in Gombe State.
The latest warning comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of healthcare workers and the impact of poor working conditions on Nigeria’s already overstretched healthcare system.
With the new four-week deadline now in effect, attention will be on the Federal Government and relevant health institutions to determine whether urgent intervention can prevent another nationwide disruption of healthcare services.
