Ofure Akhigbe
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Thursday disputed claims by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that the Federal Government has met a significant portion of its demands, insisting that its nationwide strike will continue.
The Ministry had stated on Wednesday, as reported by Business Day, that 19 out of NARD’s 20 demands had been addressed, including the 25 per cent and 35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and payment of 2024 accoutrement allowances. It also claimed the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) had commenced payments up to December 2024.
But in a statement jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association said its Extra-Ordinary National Executive Council (NEC) reviewed the government’s submissions and found that “not a single one” of its 19 core demands had been fully or verifiably met.
NARD described the Ministry’s statements as “inaccurate” and “a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” noting that what the government termed progress amounted to “unfulfilled promises, uncommenced payments, and newly formed committees.”
According to the NEC, members across the country have not received the CONMESS review payments or the 2024 accoutrement allowances. It added that the government’s claim of reconciling omissions and failed payments only confirmed that the issues remained unresolved.
On outstanding arrears, NARD said the Ministry’s announcement that issues affecting hospitals such as the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; Federal Medical Centre, Owo; and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital were still being compiled for onward transmission to the Budget Office was “a startling admission of inaction” after years of engagement.
The association also faulted the Ministry’s reference to committees set up to handle matters such as the disengaged doctors of FTH Lokoja, manpower shortages, and alleged casualisation. NARD argued that “constituting committees is not a resolution,” insisting instead on the immediate reinstatement of the affected doctors and implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy.
Responding to claims that it refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), NARD maintained that it would not sign any document “built on unfulfilled promises” or lacking clear, time-bound commitments. An MoU without verifiable guarantees, it noted, “is not worth the paper it is written on.”
NARD reaffirmed that its nationwide, total, indefinite, and comprehensive strike—which began on November 1, 2025—will continue until its minimum demands are met. These include reinstatement of the five disengaged doctors at FTH Lokoja, payment of corrected professional allowances and all outstanding arrears, implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy and specialist allowances, and resolution of all other pending issues previously communicated.
The association accused the Ministry of failing to respect labour laws and reneging on agreed timelines, saying its patience had been exhausted by years of “conciliatory meetings that yield nothing but press releases filled with hollow victories.”
While expressing readiness for dialogue, NARD urged the government to focus on concrete actions rather than “misleading press statements,” warning that the stability of the nation’s healthcare system depends on timely intervention.