The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected the reviewed allowance structure for medical and dental officers issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
In a statement issued Saturday and jointly signed by its President, Dr. Tope Osundara, and Secretary-General, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, NARD said the circular fails to address the needs of Nigerian doctors and contradicts national efforts to address the country’s worsening health workforce migration crisis.
The statement, titled “Rejection of the National Salary Income and Wages Commission Circular on Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service,” stated:
”The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) rejects in its entirety the obnoxious Circular by the Federal Government through the National Salary Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on June 27, 2025 with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, on the review of allowances for Medical and Dental Officers.
“The content of the circular is preposterous, fails to address the needs of Nigerian doctors, and it is at complete variance with national policy on Health workforce migration.
“It bespeaks the level of insouciance that has repeatedly been shown towards Nigerian doctors, who sacrifice their time and effort in the midst of poor working conditions, shortage of manpower, and limited infrastructure.
“For over a decade, the Nigerian government has not fulfilled the tenets of the 2009 collective bargaining agreement reached with Nigerian doctors.
“The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission unilaterally decided to conjure a chaotic allowance structure without transparency and a proper framework that creates mutual respect and understanding,” the statement read.
“The allowance structure as released by the NSIWC lacks attractive and adequate compensation that reflects the hard economic reality we presently face as Nigerian doctors.”
The doctors argued that the circular failed to tackle the root causes of the exodus of health workers abroad—a phenomenon that continues to cripple Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“It also fails to address the critical concerns that are negatively impacting the nation’s healthcare system.
“It completely fails to come to grips with the push-and-pull factors of health workforce migration and the consequences of such migration on the Nigerian health system.
“Nigeria is suffering from severe shortages of health workers, stemming from poor welfare packages, poor working conditions, excessive workload, burnout, mental fatigue, and lack of compensation for overtime.”
“In the face of all these challenges, what the NSIWC has offered on behalf of the Federal Government is a disrespectful gesture to Nigerian doctors,” the statement declared.
As a resolution, NARD is demanding a complete overhaul of the current allowance structure. It called for the implementation of a revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and specialist allowances as earlier proposed to the Federal Ministry of Health.
“NARD therefore demands a revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and allowances as submitted to the Federal Ministry of Health, in keeping with the collective bargaining agreements earlier made with the Federal Government, including payment of specialist allowance to all doctors.
“The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors is in solidarity with the demands of the NMA and wishes to state that a fresh negotiation team that aligns with the principles of the Collective Bargaining Agreement should be set up,” it added.
