The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government, urging immediate action on a series of long-standing grievances that affect thousands of doctors across the country. This decision was made at the conclusion of the association’s May Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference, which was held between May 26 and 31, 2025, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The meeting, themed “The Medical Profession: Policies, Politics, and Future Prospects,” brought together medical professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders to examine the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the worsening conditions under which doctors operate.
In the communique issued at the end of the gathering and signed by Dr. Osundara Tope, Dr. Odunbaku Kazeem Oluwasola, and Dr. Amobi Omoha, the association outlined its demands and expressed deep dissatisfaction with the government’s continued failure to address crucial welfare and remuneration issues. Chief among these concerns is the non-payment of arrears related to the 25 and 35 percent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), a policy adjustment that was approved but not fully implemented. The association also demanded the full implementation of consequential adjustments tied to the 2019 and 2024 minimum wage increases, noting that these adjustments had yet to be reflected in doctors’ basic salaries and allowances, despite repeated assurances from the government.
NARD also drew attention to the delay in disbursing the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF). While it acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Accountant-General, IPPIS, and the National Postgraduate Medical College in clearing much of the backlog from 2022 to 2024, the association insisted that eligible doctors were still waiting for the current year’s allocation. It emphasized that the delay in releasing this fund continues to hamper residency training and contributes to growing dissatisfaction among young medical professionals.
Another unresolved matter involves the payment of accoutrement allowance arrears for 2023 and 2024. According to NARD, both the federal government and Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of tertiary hospitals have failed to fulfill their obligations in this regard, even though approvals have been granted. The association condemned the refusal by some hospital executives to disburse these funds, calling the situation unacceptable.
The communique also addressed the issue of specialist allowances, pointing out that resident doctors continue to be excluded from this critical payment scheme, despite their frontline role in providing expert medical care. The group described the exclusion as discriminatory and a clear indication of the lack of appreciation for the contributions of resident doctors to the health system. In addition, NARD demanded the regularization and fair remuneration of locum doctors, many of whom are working without adequate contracts or benefits, exposing them to insecurity and exploitation.
One of the most pressing concerns raised was the crisis at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), where resident doctors and medical officers are reportedly owed between seven and fourteen months of salary arrears. In addition to this backlog, many have yet to receive their March 2024 salaries, further worsening their financial instability. NARD described the situation as a glaring example of the government’s failure to prioritize healthcare workers’ welfare.
The association criticized the ongoing “casualisation” of medical staff by heads of tertiary institutions, stating that it is unacceptable for trained professionals to be treated as temporary laborers with no job security or fair compensation. It further lamented that for over sixteen years, there has been no meaningful salary adjustment for resident doctors, despite inflation, economic challenges, and evolving policy commitments. NARD said this failure directly violates the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the government and the association.
Although the doctors acknowledged some progress—particularly the clearance of previous MRTF arrears and recent steps taken by state governments such as Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Abia, Benue, Kwara, Enugu, and Delta to reform their health sectors and promptly pay allowances—they made it clear that goodwill alone is no longer enough. The communique stressed that the current reality requires concrete action, not more promises.
NARD has mandated its National Officers’ Committee to continue engaging all relevant stakeholders during the four-week window. However, it warned that if there is no satisfactory progress by the end of this period, the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) will reconvene to reassess the situation and consider further steps. While the communique stopped short of specifying what those steps would be, the possibility of industrial action remains open.
In closing, the doctors expressed frustration that years of dialogue and negotiation have not yielded the necessary results. They warned that the worsening conditions under which medical professionals work are not only demoralizing but are also fueling the mass exodus of healthcare workers to other countries. With Nigeria facing a growing medical brain drain and a widening manpower gap in its hospitals, the association said the time for decisive government intervention is now. The well-being of doctors, they emphasized, cannot be postponed indefinitely.
