The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a 30-day ultimatum to address critical welfare and policy issues affecting its members, as outlined in a communiqué issued after its 45th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Katsina State, held from September 21–26, 2025.
The document was signed by NARD President Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim.
Key demands include the payment of outstanding promotion arrears, corrected professional allowances, and the reinstatement of five dismissed doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja.
NARD also rejected the creation of consultant cadres for non-medical doctors, describing it as a “dangerous trend.”
The communiqué stated, “The AGM demands that the Federal Government urgently pay all accumulated promotion arrears owed to our members across federal institutions within 30 days and reinstate the five sacked medical doctors at FTH Lokoja within the same period.”
To address poor working conditions, NARD directed its members to cease call duties exceeding 24 consecutive hours starting October 1, 2025, urging the Federal Ministry of Health to adopt international best practices for call duty hours.
The association also demanded immediate payment of arrears from the 25% and 35% upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance, and other salary shortfalls.
NARD called for house officers to be included in the Civil Service Scheme and advocated for a one-for-one replacement policy to address doctor shortages caused by migration.
“The AGM urges hospital Chief Executives to have less restricted means of employing doctors to reduce excessive workloads,” the statement noted.
The association further pressed the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to restore full recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates and urged the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to issue membership certificates to qualified candidates promptly.
NARD also called on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to address welfare issues at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho.
Beyond welfare, NARD vowed to lobby the National Assembly for increased healthcare funding in the 2026 budget and reiterated demands for special pension benefits for doctors while promoting medical entrepreneurship to mitigate economic challenges.
The AGM, themed “Mitigating Health Worker Migration Through Extra-Remuneration Incentives: A Strategy for Sustainable Development,” also saw Dr. Mohammad Suleiman elected as NARD’s new president, succeeding Dr. Tope Osundara.
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