Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government one month to implement agreements reached in a previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or face an indefinite nationwide strike.
The doctors issued the warning in a communiqué released after their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Gombe State.
The statement, signed by NARD President Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary Abdulmajid Yahya, highlighted concerns over worsening conditions in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
NARD said repeated failures by the government to address its demands had pushed its members to the brink of industrial action.
The association listed the safety of doctors, poor remuneration, unpaid allowances, inadequate working conditions, and alleged intimidation of resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) among its major concerns.
“While we have repeatedly extended previous ultimatums in good faith, we will no longer tolerate further delays in addressing the welfare and safety of our members,” NARD said.
The doctors raised concerns over increasing attacks against healthcare workers, calling for the establishment of a National Healthcare Workers Assault Prevention and Response Protocol and legislation to criminalise assaults on medical personnel.
NARD also demanded the resolution of the crisis at LUTH, including alleged harassment of doctors, restoration of call-duty meals, and action against officials accused of intimidating resident doctors.
The association expressed concern over Nigeria’s shrinking medical workforce, noting that the number of resident doctors has dropped from about 25,000 over a decade ago to slightly above 12,000 currently.
It said the remaining doctors are struggling to provide healthcare services for a population of more than 230 million people, with about 10,000 working in federal health institutions and roughly 2,000 in state and private facilities.
Other demands include the payment of outstanding salary and promotion arrears, 25/35 per cent CONMESS upward review arrears, 19 months of professional allowance arrears, and omitted Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) allowances.
NARD also called for urgent rehabilitation of healthcare facilities, provision of modern medical equipment, and measures to address excessive workloads and long working hours affecting doctors.
The association warned that failure by the government to substantially address its 13-point demands by next month would result in a “total, comprehensive, and indefinite nationwide strike” across public health facilities.
