The Nigerian Affiliation of Resident Medical doctors (NARD) has issued a recent 24-hour ultimatum to the federal authorities to handle its excellent calls for, following the expiration of an earlier 10-day deadline on 10 September.
NARD had, on 1 September, threatened a nationwide industrial motion if the federal government did not resolve pending points inside 10 days.
In a communiqué issued after its Extraordinary Nationwide Government Council (E-NEC) assembly held nearly on Wednesday, the affiliation mentioned it resolved to grant the federal government one remaining 24-hour window.
The docs mentioned failure to conform will end in a five-day warning strike, commencing on Friday, 12 September.
“The E-NEC mandates the NOC to make sure the quick cost of the excellent Medical Residency Coaching Fund (MRTF) inside 24 hours and to facilitate the decision of different pending issues as an indication of excellent religion from the federal government,” it mentioned.
“Failure to conform will end in a five-day warning strike, commencing at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, 12 September 2025.”
Calls for, Grievances
The affiliation decried the federal government’s refusal to pay 5 months of arrears from the 25/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Wage Construction (CONMESS) evaluate, together with different excellent wage arrears.
It additionally conveyed disappointment on the federal authorities’s failure to fulfil its commitments relating to the discharge of funds for the cost of the excellent 2025 MRTF to quite a few resident docs.
It mentioned these docs stay unpaid regardless of a number of ultimatums and extensions.
It additionally criticised the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for downgrading membership certificates from the West African Faculties of Physicians and Surgeons.
“The E-NEC additionally acquired an replace on the woefully insufficient efforts exerted by the Oyo State authorities to sort out the challenges confronting members of the ARD LAUTECH Educating Hospital, Ogbomosho, amidst an ongoing indefinite strike motion on the establishment.
“The E-NEC condemned the negligence exhibited by most state governments in paying the MRTF to resident docs beneath their make use of, deeming this an act of gross insensitivity.”
It additionally expressed disappointment within the federal authorities’s failure to handle its calls for regardless of quite a few ultimatums issued.
NARD had, in July, issued a three-week ultimatum, however within the curiosity of commercial concord, the NEC prolonged the deadline to permit for additional engagement with stakeholders.
Name to motion
To avert industrial motion, the docs are demanding the quick disbursement of the 2025 MRTF and the settlement of 5 months of excellent CONMESS arrears, together with different unpaid allowances.
Additionally they referred to as on the MDCN to revive recognition of the West African postgraduate membership certificates and urged the Nationwide Postgraduate Medical Faculty of Nigeria to promptly situation certificates to certified candidates in keeping with worldwide greatest practices.
Additionally they urged Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to handle the grievances of docs at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho, who stay on strike.
The council additional appealed to all state governors to prioritise docs’ welfare, guarantee well timed cost of MRTF, and take proactive measures to curb emigration whereas sustaining industrial concord.
Looming catastrophe
The resident docs comprise the majority of medical personnel in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals; therefore, healthcare companies are sometimes crippled after they embark on strike.
The warning from NARD comes amid ongoing strikes in different elements of the nation.
The Affiliation of Resident Medical doctors within the Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT) started a seven-day warning strike on Monday to drive residence their calls for.
Among the many points the docs highlighted have been an absence of manpower, poor welfare, unpaid salaries, unexplained deductions, and the psychological toll of lengthy working hours.
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The affiliation famous that no new employment had taken place in FCT hospitals since 2011, forcing resident docs to cowl a number of departments.
PREMIUM TIMES’ checks at well being amenities in Abuja on Tuesday confirmed sufferers are closely bearing the brunt of the economic motion, with a number of departments shut down and solely emergency instances being attended to.
Equally, resident docs on the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu College Educating Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, Anambra, on Thursday started a seven-day warning strike to demand higher working circumstances.
