Govt Clarifies Certification Controversy In Dispute With Resident Doctors

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq  Salako, has clarified that ongoing tensions with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) are partly driven by misunderstandings over certification processes, insisting that it cannot intervene in procedures governed by independent regulatory bodies.

In a statement by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, on Tuesday, the minister  said criticisms accusing the government of delaying certification for resident doctors are misplaced, as the ministry has no authority to alter the policies of professional colleges.

Dr. Salako explained that the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), which oversees specialist medical training, does not issue certificates to doctors after the Part I examinations, a long-standing internal policy of the college.

He stressed that this rule is not subject to ministerial control, and therefore cannot be changed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

“The claim that government is delaying certificates is not accurate. The Postgraduate Medical College does not issue certificates for Part I, and that is its established policy. We cannot override that process,” the minister said.

He added that similar misconceptions are contributing to the broader dispute, including demands tied to allowances and specialist status. According to him, while resident doctors are specialists-in-training, current civil service regulations reserve specialist allowances solely for certified consultants.

Dr. Salako noted that extending such allowances to residents would set off a chain reaction across the sector, with other professional groups in various training stages making similar demands, a move the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has already advised against.

Despite the controversy, the minister said government has made substantial progress, reducing NARD’s outstanding demands from 19 to nine.

He maintained that the administration remains committed to addressing legitimate concerns within the limits of existing laws and service regulations.