By Muhammad Adam
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address lingering welfare and professional issues affecting doctors across the country, warning that failure to act could trigger further actions capable of disrupting industrial harmony in the health sector.
The decision was reached at the end of the association’s May Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) and Scientific Conference held between May 31 and June 5, 2026, in Kano State.
The conference, themed “Caring for the Caregivers: Mental Health and Emotional Resilience in Residency Training,” focused on challenges confronting medical practitioners and ways to improve their wellbeing and productivity.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, NARD expressed grave concern over the increasing cases of assault, harassment, intimidation, and violent attacks against doctors while carrying out their duties. The association described the trend as unacceptable and a major threat to Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system.
The doctors called on the Federal Government, security agencies, and hospital managements to ensure the protection of healthcare workers and health facilities nationwide. They demanded the development and implementation of a National Healthcare Workers Assault Prevention and Response Protocol within the next 21 days.
NARD also lamented the non-disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), the delay in payment of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS upward review arrears, and the outstanding 19 months’ professional allowance arrears owed to doctors nationwide.
The association further demanded the immediate settlement of salary and promotion arrears across federal and state health institutions.
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The meeting highlighted welfare challenges facing house officers, including salary delays, unpaid arrears, and difficulties in internship placement and onboarding processes.
It also raised concerns over delays in recruitment caused by the non-issuance of compliance letters by the Federal Character Commission, warning that the situation is worsening workforce shortages and accelerating the brain drain in the health sector.
NARD acknowledged progress made by the ministerial committee addressing excessive workload, prolonged call-duty hours, casualisation of medical doctors, and abusive locum appointments, urging authorities to implement its recommendations without delay.
While commending the governors of Kano and Osun states for efforts to improve doctors’ welfare and healthcare delivery, the association declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government and warned that it could not guarantee industrial harmony if its demands remain unresolved after the 21-day deadline.