Resident doctors issue FG fresh ultimatum, demand MoU implementation

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its one-month nationwide strike but warned it will resume action if the federal government fails to fully implement agreements reached during recent conciliatory meetings.

In a communiqué released on Monday after its Extraordinary NEC meeting, NARD said several of its 19-point demands remain unresolved despite partial progress.

These include unpaid salary and allowance arrears, manpower shortages, prolonged duty hours, pension issues, and poor hospital infrastructure.

The association expressed concern over delays in implementing special pension benefits agreed in the July 26, 2025 MoU, as well as stalled commitments on equipment upgrades and power supply in teaching hospitals.

While the government has begun clearing arrears from the 25% and 35% CONMESS adjustments up to December 2023, NARD urged IPPIS to fix failed or omitted payments.

It also noted progress on the 2024 accoutrement allowance and specialist allowance for doctors on CONMESS 5.

On the disengagement of five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, NARD said recommendations from a ministerial committee must be implemented within two weeks from November 27.

The doctors’ body demanded immediate processing of outstanding arrears owed in FUHSTH Otukpo, FMC Owo, UITH Ilorin, OAUTHC Ile-Ife, and UUTH Uyo.

It further insisted on activating the duty-hours taskforce, correcting entry-level placement errors, restarting the Collective Bargaining Agreement process, and enforcing the one-to-one replacement policy to tackle manpower deficits.

Resident doctors in centres with unresolved local issues were directed to continue their local strikes pending concrete commitments from management.

NARD suspended the nationwide strike for four weeks but warned it will restore a total and indefinite action if all agreed demands are not met.

Hospitals across the country have faced severe disruptions in the past month, with patients turned back, clinics shut, and consultants overstretched due to the withdrawal of resident doctors—who constitute the majority of tertiary hospital staff.