• N38bn arrears owed
• Issues Saturday deadline
• Warns of total service shutdown in hospitals nationwide
ABUJA – The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a fresh warning to the Federal Government, listing 19 demands described as the minimum conditions to avert an indefinite nationwide strike set to begin at midnight on Saturday.
President of the association, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while addressing journalists after an Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
He said doctors have exercised “enough patience” despite years of government inaction on critical welfare and remuneration issues, noting that over ₦38 billion in accumulated allowances was still owed to medical personnel across the country.
“There are allowances of over two years, some for 18 months, seven months, four months, and even 10 years,” he said.
“There has also been a failure to review the basic salary of doctors in this country for 16 years.”
Suleiman explained that the association had suspended a five-day warning strike in September and extended its ultimatum by 30 days to give government room to act, but said no concrete steps had been taken since.
“The Federal Government has failed to demonstrate the political will necessary to address the legitimate concerns of Nigerian resident doctors,” he said.
Among the 19 demands, the NEC called for immediate payment of outstanding 25–35 percent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears, 2024 accoutrement allowances, and other pending entitlements owed to doctors and health workers nationwide.
The doctors also demanded the reinstatement of five resident doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; urgent upgrade of medical facilities across the country; and immediate implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy to reduce the workload caused by unfilled vacancies.
NARD further urged government to enforce the payment of specialist and professional allowances, correct all entry-level placements, clear promotion arrears, and end the casualisation of doctors by regularising all locum staff.
“The NEC further demands the immediate release and implementation of corrected tables of professional allowances and enforcement of relativity between CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures,” Suleiman said.
Declaring the association’s position, he stated: “NARD hereby declares a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike commencing at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday. All resident doctors in federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide are directed to withdraw their services completely and indefinitely.”
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene to avert the impending shutdown of medical services nationwide.
“I hope you will listen to this passionate appeal and use your goodwill. You are the father of the nation. Come into this matter, weigh in, and solve it for us,” he said.