The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has outlined 19 key demands which it described as the minimum expectations required to avert a total and indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to begin on Saturday.
NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, made this known on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing where he presented the resolutions of the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The meeting was convened following the expiration of NARD’s 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
Suleiman said the association had exercised patience for too long in the face of government’s inaction, warning that resident doctors had already commenced ward rounds and patient handovers in preparation for the planned industrial action.
According to him, the outstanding payments and welfare issues affect not only resident doctors but also other categories of health professionals, including administrative staff. He revealed that the government currently owes doctors and other health workers across the country about ₦38 billion in accumulated allowances, some of which date back over a decade.
“There are allowances of over two years, some for 18 months, seven months, four months and even 10 years. There has also been a failure to review the basic salary of doctors in this country for 16 years,” Suleiman lamented.
He recalled that the association had earlier suspended a five-day warning strike in September and extended its ultimatum by 30 days to give government room to respond. However, the grace period had since elapsed without meaningful progress.
“The Federal Government has failed to demonstrate the political will necessary to address the legitimate concerns of Nigerian resident doctors,” he stated.
Suleiman explained that the 19-point demand presented by NARD represents the minimum action expected from the government to prevent a total collapse of the public health system.
Among the major demands are:
Immediate payment of outstanding 25–35% Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears and the 2024 accoutrement allowance.
Full settlement of all pending financial entitlements owed to doctors and other health workers.
Immediate reinstatement of five resident doctors unjustly dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, along with full payment of their outstanding salaries and allowances.
Development and implementation of a humane working-hours policy for doctors in line with international best practices.
Granting hospital Chief Executives autonomy to employ and replace exiting doctors under a one-for-one replacement policy.
Urgent upgrade and maintenance of medical infrastructure and equipment nationwide.
Commencement of specialist allowance payments to all doctors.
Inclusion of medical and dental house officers in the civil service scheme with full entitlements.
Correction of entry-level placements for doctors and payment of associated arrears.
Completion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Committee’s work on the review of CONMESS and professional allowances.
Release and implementation of corrected tables for professional allowances and clear enforcement of salary relativity between CONMESS and CONHESS.
Other issues highlighted include the payment of accrued promotion arrears, the reversal of consultant cadre creation for non-medical personnel, and the abolition of casualisation of doctors, insisting that all locum staff be regularised under public service rules.
NARD also demanded uniform implementation of all CONMESS circulars across federal, state, and private hospitals, immediate clearance of outstanding salary arrears, and full implementation of special pension benefits as earlier agreed with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
