Monday, June 2, 2025 - The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the federal government to address its long-standing demands. While the association did not outline specific consequences should the government fail to act, it emphasized the urgency of the situation.
This resolution was contained in a communique released at the end of
NARD’s May Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference, held from May 26
to May 31, 2025, at Villa Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
“The OGM gives the National Officers’ Committee the next four weeks to
continue engagement with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the implementation
of the above demands, after which the NEC will reappraise the situation,” the
communique state
The meeting, themed “The Medical Profession: Policies, Politics, and
Future Prospects,” featured a keynote address by Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, Medical
Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin City.
Key Demands by NARD Include:
Immediate payment of arrears from
the 25/35% CONMESS salary increase and other outstanding salaries
Full implementation of the 2019
and 2024 minimum wage adjustments with arrears
Swift disbursement of the 2025
Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF)
Completion of 2023/2024
accoutrement allowance payments
Inclusion of resident doctors in
the specialist allowance scheme
Full regularisation and
remuneration of locum doctors
Prompt resolution of welfare
issues at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC)
Engagement with the Federal
Ministry of Health to establish sustainable employment practices and stem the
tide of brain drain
Improved welfare packages for
doctors in state hospitals and training institutions
The communique—signed by Dr. Osundara Tope (President), Dr. Odunbaku
Kazeem Oluwasola (Secretary-General), and Dr. Amobi Omoha (Public and Social
Secretary)—expressed deep concern over what it called 16 years of systematic
underpayment of doctors in breach of the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
It also decried the exclusion of resident doctors from receiving specialist
allowances and highlighted an alarming shortage of medical personnel in
hospitals across the country.
“The OGM strongly condemns the
continued casualisation and poor remuneration of doctors by chief executives of
tertiary hospitals,” the statement read.
Particularly troubling is the situation at OAUTHC, where welfare issues
remain unresolved, including the non-payment of March 2024 salaries and between
7 and 14 months of salary arrears for residents and medical officers.
NARD, however, acknowledged recent efforts by the federal government, the
Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, IPPIS, the
Accountant-General’s office, and the National Postgraduate Medical College in
addressing some issues—especially the backlog of the MRTF from 2022 to 2024.
The association also commended the ongoing processing of the 2025 MRTF.
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