Resident Doctors give FG four weeks to implement agreements or face strike resumption

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has clarified that its suspended nationwide strike will last only four weeks to allow the Federal Government begin implementing agreements reached during negotiations.

In a statement issued after an emergency meeting in Abuja and signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Sulieman, and other executives, the association says the decision was taken “in the interest of Nigerians.”
NARD, but, warns that it will resume the strike without further notice if the government fails to fulfil its commitments.

According to the statement, we are giving government a final window to implement the agreed demands. If these commitments are not fully met, the strike will resume immediately.

The strike, which lasted 29 days, disrupted services across federal and state hospitals. Resident doctors had demanded the payment of outstanding allowances, full funding for residency training, improved working conditions and implementation of hazard allowances.

Sulieman said the temporary suspension followed measurable progress on arrears, allowances, manpower policy and administrative reforms.

He confirmed that the Federal Government, through IPPIS, had paid arrears of the 25% and 35% CONMESS review up to December 2023, except for isolated cases currently being reconciled.

The NARD president added that the disengagement case involving five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, was being resolved, with full implementation expected within two weeks of the committee report submitted on November 27.

On manpower and duty hours, he confirmed that the Ministry of Health had issued advisories discouraging prolonged call duties. A central taskforce comprising the ministry, CMDs, MDCAN and NARD will develop a comprehensive duty-hour policy within two months.

He also disclosed ongoing engagement with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on one-to-one replacement to address manpower shortages and burnout.

Dr. Sulieman highlighted renewed directives on promotion arrears, specialist allowances, corrected professional allowances and uniform CONMESS application across ministries.

Despite federal-level progress, he expressed concern over unresolved issues in some state tertiary hospitals and directed affected NARD chapters to continue local industrial action until state governments demonstrate genuine commitment to resolving the disputes.

He added that efforts were underway to finalise collective bargaining agreements, upgrade infrastructure and correct entry-level placements for new resident doctors.

“Although the 25% and 35% CONMESS arrears have been paid, about 40% of our members are yet to receive theirs. The MoU provides that NARD will receive a Remita report from IPPIS to reconcile omissions and ensure full payment. We agreed on that, and we are moving forward,” he said.