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 strike.
The decision was reached during the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held virtually after the expiration of its earlier 21-day ultimatum.
In a communiqué 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 window if its demands remained unmet.
It also directed its National Officers’ Committee to begin preparations for industrial action should the government fail to make satisfactory progress within the stipulated period.
NARD accused the Federal Government and several health institutions of failing to honour agreements on doctors’ welfare, particularly the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and other entitlements.
Among its grievances are the non-disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, delays in paying house officers’ salaries, unpaid 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary review arrears, and 19 months of outstanding Professional Allowance arrears.
The association also criticised the continued victimisation of its members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, and opposed attempts by the hospital management to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions despite a government directive abolishing the practice.
NARD further condemned the refusal of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty, describing the development as anti-welfare and warning that hospital managements would be held responsible for any industrial unrest arising from such practices.
Despite its concerns, the association acknowledged progress in addressing assaults on healthcare workers and welcomed ongoing work by ministerial committees investigating workplace violence, excessive workload, prolonged call hours, casualisation of doctors and abusive locum appointments.
It also commended some state governments and private tertiary health institutions for implementing welfare measures, including the payment of Professional Allowance arrears, Specialist Allowance, revised CONMESS salaries and the Medical Residency Training Fund.
NARD, however, maintained that implementation of agreements with the Federal Government remained slow and unsatisfactory.
The association demanded 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 for healthcare workers against assaults, and accelerated implementation of the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement.
It said compliance with its resolutions would be reviewed at its July 2026 National Executive Council meeting in Gombe State.