The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called on the federal government to urgently review doctors’ salaries and introduce stronger incentives to stem the ongoing migration of health professionals to foreign countries, a situation commonly referred to as ‘Japa’.

The NARD president, Dr. Tope Osundara made the appeal during the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Katsina State.

He praised NARD members for their commitment through a challenging year of “triumphs and travails”, highlighting progress in improving doctors’ welfare despite regulatory and political pressures.

Dr. Osundara stressed that poor pay and harsh working conditions were driving an unprecedented exodus of Nigerian doctors, leaving critically ill patients without adequate care.

“The strongest reward to motivate health workers in Nigeria is payment of salary and other financial incentives,” he said, lamenting that no collective bargaining agreement has reviewed salaries of medical workers in over a decade.

He also warned of a potential nationwide strike if the government fails to meet the 19-point demand of the National Medical Employees by August 2025.

According to him, incentive-based policies, a fresh salary negotiation, and enhanced training were crucial to retaining talent and strengthening the country’s health system.

Dr. Osundara urged NARD members to participate actively in discussions that will shape the next phase of advocacy.

“Your insights are invaluable, and together we can continue to build on our successes,” he said, reaffirming that salary review and improved working conditions remained NARD’s top priorities.

Katsina State governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, assured the resident doctors of the State government’s continued support, urging them to put patriotism ahead of their renumeration.