Nigeria’s public health system is on the brink of disruption as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government 24 hours to meet long-standing demands.
The association reached this decision after a tense six-hour virtual meeting of its National Executive Council on Wednesday, coming just hours after the expiration of its earlier 10-day ultimatum.
Dr. Tope Osundara, NARD President, confirmed that while government officials had promised to intervene, doctors were no longer willing to wait.
In their communiqué, dated September 1, 2025, and endorsed by NARD’s national leaders, the group demanded the immediate disbursement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), clearance of salary arrears linked to the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and the payment of other delayed entitlements.
They further requested the settlement of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, consistent payment of specialist allowances, and recognition of West African postgraduate certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
“The Federal Government called us yesterday (Wednesday) and promised to address our concerns. After a six-hour deliberation, we decided to give the government the next 24 hours to act. If not, the strike begins,” Osundara stated.
Resident doctors play a crucial role in Nigeria’s federal and state hospitals, and any work stoppage could result in massive service collapse across the country.
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