The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has dismissed the Federal Government’s recent claims of progress on doctors’ welfare and health sector reforms, describing them as “fiction rather than fact.”
In a statement jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim, on Monday, the association said the reality on the ground “stands in stark contrast” to the optimistic tone of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s press release of October 31, 2025.
According to the statement, NARD accused the ministry of misrepresenting the true state of doctors’ welfare and industrial conditions, urging President Bola Tinubu to seek the facts “before fiction” in assessing the crisis that has grounded public hospitals across the country.
The association reiterated its 19-point demand, which it said represented the minimum requirements for sustaining the county’s healthcare system and restoring dignity to medical practice.
Among the key issues raised by the association were unpaid arrears, allowances, and entitlements, including the 25/35 per cent CONMESS review, promotion arrears, upgrade arrears, accoutrement allowance, and other benefits, which have remained unsettled for over five years.
ARD also faulted the government’s claim that ₦30billion had been released to offset arrears, saying most resident doctors were yet to receive full payments.
On promotion and upgrade delays, the group lamented that many doctors waited over five years to be paid despite approved promotions, while those who passed postgraduate exams faced “severe bottlenecks” in being upgraded.
NARD condemned the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), calling it “a tool of frustration” responsible for recurring salary shortfalls of up to ₦100,000 in recent months. It urged the creation of a specialised health-sector payroll platform that ensures timely and accurate payments.
It also challenged the ministry’s claim of recruiting 20,000 health workers in 2024 and planning another 15,000 in 2025, demanding that verifiable data be made public. According to NARD, Nigeria’s pool of resident doctors has dropped from 16,000 to about 9,000 in a decade due to poor welfare and unsafe working conditions.
The association acknowledged the release of ₦10.6billion for the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) but stressed that the disbursement should be regular, transparent, and adjusted for inflation.
It also condemned the partial reinstatement of dismissed doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, insisting that all five affected doctors be reinstated “immediately and unconditionally.”
Other concerns by the doctors included; denial of the Specialist Allowance to resident doctors, inpaid salary arrears at Benue State University Teaching Hospital (18 months), FMC Owo (4–8 months), and OAUTHC Ile-Ife (7–14 months), Non-implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy, casualisation of doctors in many hospitalsl, downgrading of doctors’ entry level from CONMESS 3/3 to 2/2, and unregulated long working hours without compensation.
NARD also demanded urgent pension reforms to secure post-service welfare and recognition of doctors’ occupational hazards.
The resident doctors emphasised that their ongoing indefinite strike is not aimed at punishing Nigerians but at saving the healthcare system from collapse.
“Our struggle transcends money; it is about dignity, safety, and survival. A functional health system cannot be built on neglect, broken promises, and overwork, ” the statement read.
NARD reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue but warned that “industrial peace cannot be achieved through press statements but through justice, sincerity, and respect for agreements.”
The association urged the government to take verifiable actions before the 2026 budget approval to address its long-standing grievances and restore normalcy to Nigeria’s public health institutions.
