Resident Doctors Declare Industrial Dispute, Give FG Four-Week Ultimatum to Avert Nationwide Strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government and issued a fresh four-week ultimatum, warning that a nationwide strike could become unavoidable if longstanding welfare and professional issues affecting its members remain unresolved.

The decision was reached during an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held virtually on Saturday, following the expiration of an earlier 21-day ultimatum issued to the government.

In a communique released on Sunday and jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association accused the Federal Government and some health institutions of failing to honour agreements relating to doctors' welfare and remuneration.

Among the unresolved issues highlighted by the association are the non-release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), unpaid salary arrears, promotion arrears, outstanding professional allowances and delays in the payment of House Officers' salaries across several health institutions.

The association also lamented the non-payment of arrears arising from the 25/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review as well as 19 months of outstanding Professional Allowance arrears, describing the situation as unacceptable.

"NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments," the communiqué stated.

Beyond financial issues, the association expressed concern over what it described as the victimisation of its members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, warning that it would resist any attempt to intimidate or undermine resident doctors.

NARD also criticised the alleged move by the OAUTHC management to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions despite an existing government directive abolishing the practice.

The association further faulted the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) over the non-provision of call meals for resident doctors on duty, describing the development as an anti-welfare practice that could fuel industrial unrest if left unresolved.

Despite its dissatisfaction, NARD acknowledged progress in some areas, particularly efforts by the Federal Government to address assaults on healthcare workers and the near completion of reports by ministerial committees investigating workplace violence, excessive workloads, prolonged call hours, casualisation of doctors and abusive locum appointments.

The association also commended several state governments and private tertiary health institutions for implementing welfare measures, including payment of professional allowance arrears, specialist allowances, revised CONMESS salary adjustments and residency training funds.

However, it maintained that the overall implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government remains slow and unsatisfactory.

NARD is demanding the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of all outstanding salary, promotion and professional allowance arrears, full implementation of the revised CONMESS salary structure and stronger measures to protect healthcare workers from workplace violence.

The association also called for the immediate submission, approval and implementation of recommendations by ministerial committees investigating excessive workloads, prolonged call hours and poor working conditions for doctors, as well as accelerated implementation of the Medical and Health Workers' Collective Bargaining Agreement.

As part of its resolutions, NARD extended its ultimatum by four weeks and directed its National Officers Committee to begin preparations for industrial action should the Federal Government fail to meet its demands within the stipulated period.

"The association cannot guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four-week window if all its demands are not fully addressed," the communiqué warned.

The association said it would review the government's level of compliance at its July 2026 National Executive Council meeting in Gombe State, where a final decision on the next line of action is expected.

The latest warning comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of healthcare workers and the capacity of Nigeria's already strained health sector to withstand another nationwide industrial action.