Resident Doctors Give FG Ultimatum Over Demands

RESIDENT doctors, under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), has given the Federal Government a fresh four-week deadline to meet all outstanding agreements on salaries, allowances and welfare or face another industrial action.
NARD, in a communiqué at the end of its January National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and scientific conference, held in Jos, Plateau State, from January 25 to 29, signed by its President, Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity/Social Secretary, Abdulmajid Ibrahim, said suspension of the Total Indefinite Comprehensive Strike (TICS) would be extended for another four weeks.
According to the association: “In recognition of the progress made by the Federal Government towards addressing the legitimate demands of Nigerian resident doctors, the NEC has resolved to extend the suspension of the Total Indefinite Comprehensive Strike for a further period of four weeks.”
The NEC commended President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateu State and other stakeholders for their roles in the ongoing negotiations, as well as the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for helping to reinstate doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and addressing arrears related to the 25 per cent and 35 per cent CONMESS and accoutrement allowances.
IPPIS had assured the association that payments would be made within two weeks, whiel the Federal Ministry of Finance confirmed that promotion and salary arrears had been sent to the relevant authorities for processing.
However, despite some progress, NARD said it was frustrated by ongoing issues, such as the delay in circulating the directive that confirms CONMESS 3 as the approved entry level for medical doctors and criticised the non-payment of the Professional Allowance included in the 2026 Appropriation Act and the ongoing salary arrears in several federal and state health sectors.
The communiqué also warned that labour relations at Benue State University Teaching Hospital were getting worse and called for urgent government action to prevent further problems avoid escalation.
It urged the Federal Government to release training funds on time, pay all entitlements promptly and keep investing in health infrastructure to avoid more service disruptions.
The conference focused on the theme, ‘Innovating for Equity: Technology as a Bridge between Poverty and Health,” was chaired by the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Christopher Piwuna, while All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda (represented), gave the keynote address.