The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a 19-point demand to the Federal Government, warning that failure to meet these minimum expectations will trigger a total and indefinite nationwide strike from Saturday.
Dr Muhammad Suleiman, NARD President, announced the resolutions on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing following the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The gathering came after the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum to the government.
Suleiman stated that doctors have already begun ward rounds and patient handovers in preparation for the strike, citing government inaction on outstanding payments and welfare issues affecting all health workers, including administrative staff. He revealed that the government currently owes approximately N38 billion in accumulated allowances, some dating back over 10 years, and noted that doctors’ basic salaries have not been reviewed for 16 years.
Among the 19 demands are the immediate payment of 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears, 2024 accoutrement allowances, and other pending financial entitlements. NARD is also calling for the reinstatement of five resident doctors unjustly terminated from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, with full arrears, and the development of a humane “working-hours policy” aligned with international best practices.
Other demands include granting hospital chief executives autonomy to replace departing doctors, upgrading and maintaining infrastructure and equipment nationwide, commencing specialist allowance payments, inclusion of medical and dental house officers in the civil service scheme, decentralising promotion processes, and implementing corrected tables of professional allowances.
The association further seeks the regularisation of locum staff, uniform implementation of CONMESS circulars across all health institutions, payment of accrued promotion arrears, and enforcement of special pension benefits previously agreed with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
“Following the Federal Government’s failure to meet these demands, NARD hereby declares a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike commencing at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday,” Suleiman said, directing all resident doctors in federal and state tertiary hospitals to withdraw services until the government demonstrates genuine commitment to addressing their concerns.
The NARD President appealed to President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene to prevent the strike and resolve the persistent issues affecting doctors and the health sector.
Over the years, NARD has staged multiple industrial actions to demand better welfare, remuneration, and working conditions, often paralysing public hospital services nationwide and disrupting healthcare delivery.
