As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence anniversary on Wednesday, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has taken steps to protect its members from excessive work hours, declaring an end to continuous call duty beyond 24 hours.
In a statement issued at the end of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and signed by its President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajeed Yahya Ibrahim, NARD described prolonged call duty as a “silent killer” that has led to the untimely deaths of many young doctors in the country.
“If we do not safeguard ourselves, who will? To this end, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) hereby directs that, with effect from October 1, 2025, all resident doctors across the country shall cease taking continuous calls beyond a twenty four hour period,” NARD said.
The doctors said the situation inevitably leads to increased medical errors due to burnout, endangering patients’ safety, with severe toll on the mental, physical, and psychological well-being of doctors, lamenting that too often, resident doctors sacrifice their health and sometimes their lives in service to their patients.
Highlighting the country’s worsening doctor shortage, NARD drew attention to the World Health Organisation’s recommended doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:600, compared with Nigeria’s alarming 1:9,083 ratio.
With only about 11,000 resident doctors serving an estimated 240 million people, doctors in the country are forced to work extreme hours, NARD lamented, adding that resident doctors work an average of 106.5 hours per week, with surgical residents logging over 122.7 hours weekly.
The association warned that the unsustainable workload not only puts patients at risk but also devastates doctors’ health and family lives. “The painful question remains: Who cares for their families and dependants after their passing? How many more lives must we lose before decisive action is taken?” NARD asked.
As part of its resolutions, NARD urged the federal government to immediately implement a one-to-one replacement policy to reduce the crushing workload on doctors and establish clear regulations to curb excessive call hours in line with global best practice.
While acknowledging the contributions of doctors who continue to serve in the country despite the global brain drain, the association stressed the need for protection, fair remuneration, and reforms to safeguard the profession.
On the nation’s Independence Day, NARD said it was important not only to celebrate Nigeria’s progress but also to reflect on the sacrifices of resident doctors.
