Posted on: Fri 21-11-2025

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has faulted claims by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that the federal government has made “substantial progress” in addressing the union’s demands, describing the statement as misleading and inaccurate.

In a strongly worded response on Wednesday, NARD insisted that none of its 19 core demands has been fully met, contrary to the ministry’s assertion that 19 out of 20 issues raised by the doctors had been addressed. The association said this deliberate misrepresentation was aimed at undermining the ongoing nationwide strike, which began on November 1, 2025.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, had earlier appealed to the striking doctors to suspend their industrial action, stating that the government had commenced payment of the 25%/35% upward review of CONMESS and the 2024 accoutrement allowances up to December 2024. He added that any discrepancies in payment were being reconciled between NARD and the IPPIS office.

However, NARD dismissed these claims, saying none of its members had received the said payments. In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim, the association said the ministry’s position amounted to “anticipation of action, not action itself.”

“Not a single one of our 19 core demands has been fully and verifiably met,” the statement read. “What the ministry characterises as progress are, in fact, unfulfilled promises, uncommenced payments, and newly formed committees—a familiar cycle of delay and deception that prompted this strike in the first place.”

The union said that claims regarding the resolution of arrears, specialist allowances, and salary backlogs were unfounded, noting that government officials were still “compiling lists” of affected workers years after negotiations began.

On the disengaged doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, NARD criticised the government’s plan to set up committees, saying such actions only prolong unresolved issues. It demanded the immediate reinstatement of the affected doctors and firm implementation of a one-for-one replacement policy to address manpower shortages.

The association further clarified its refusal to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), stating that previous agreements were largely unimplemented and lacking in clear, enforceable timelines.

“We will not be party to an agreement that merely papers over cracks while our members continue to suffer,” the group insisted. “An MoU that does not guarantee immediate and verifiable action is not worth the paper it is written on.”

NARD reaffirmed that its indefinite nationwide strike would continue until its minimum demands are met. These include the reinstatement of the five sacked doctors at FTH Lokoja, immediate payment of all outstanding allowances and arrears, full implementation of specialist allowances, and concrete steps to resolve all pending issues raised in earlier engagements.

Despite its grievances, the association said it remained open to constructive dialogue with the government.

The strike, now in its third week, has disrupted services across major public hospitals nationwide, raising concerns about the growing strain on Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.

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