NARD faults labour ministry’s claims, insists strike continues

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors on Thursday refuted claims by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that a high percentage of its demands have been met.

NARD described the claims as not only inaccurate but a deliberate attempt to mislead the Nigerian public and undermine the legitimate struggle of its members.

Business Day on Wednesday reported that the Ministry of Labour and Employment announced that the Federal Government had addressed 19 out of the 20 demands listed by NARD.

The ministry listed some of the issues resolved to include the 25 per cent/35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the 2024 Accoutrements Allowances of the Association, adding that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System shows payment has started up to December 2024.

The NARD strike, which began on November 1, is an industrial action by resident doctors over unmet demands regarding salaries, allowances, welfare, and working conditions in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

However, in a statement signed by its President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, NARD noted that its Extra-Ordinary National Executive Council meeting had reviewed the government’s position and found that, contrary to the Ministry’s claims, not a single one of its 19 core demands has been fully or verifiably met.

“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.

“We wish to set the record straight for the benefit of the Nigerian public that on payments and allowances, the Ministry’s claim that payment for the 25 per cent/35 per cent CONMESS review and 2024 accoutrement allowances has commenced up to December 2024 is, at best, an anticipation of action, not action itself.

“Our members across the country have not received these payments. Similarly, the claim of working to reconcile omissions and failed payments is an admission of an unresolved problem, not its solution. An announcement of intent is not a substitute for a credited salary,” NARD highlighted.

The association stated that on outstanding arrears and allowances, the Ministry’s statement that issues like the specialist allowance, outstanding salaries, and arrears in hospitals like Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; Federal Medical Centre, Owo; University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State; and others were accepted to compile the list is a startling admission of inaction.

“After years of dialogue, the fact that the government is still at the stage of compiling lists for the budget office confirms our central grievance: a crippling lack of urgency and implementation.

“On critical welfare issues: The Ministry’s release mentions that committees were set up for necessary actions regarding the disengaged doctors of FTH Lokoja, manpower shortages, and the casualisation of doctors. Constituting a committee is not a resolution; it is often a bureaucratic tool for indefinite postponement. Our demand is for the immediate reinstatement of our colleagues in Lokoja and the concrete implementation of a one-for-one replacement policy to curb burnout, not the formation of another talking shop.

“On the refusal to sign the MoU: The Minister’s insinuation that NARD ‘outrightly refused to sign the MoU’ is a misrepresentation of fact. We refuse to sign any Memorandum of Understanding that is built on a foundation of unfulfilled promises and lacks clear, binding, and time-bound deliverables. We will not be party to an agreement that merely papers over cracks while our members continue to suffer. An MoU that does not guarantee immediate and verifiable action is not worth the paper it is written on,” it added.

Meanwhile, NARD emphasised that its demands remain unchanged.

It said, “The nationwide, total, indefinite, and comprehensive strike action, which commenced on November 1, 2025, continues. As resolved by our NEC, the strike will persist until our minimum demands, which constitute the barest minimum for a dignified and sustainable medical practice in Nigeria, are met.

“These include the immediate reinstatement of the five disengaged doctors at FTH Lokoja with full compensation; the immediate release and payment of the corrected professional allowances and all outstanding salary/allowance arrears; the concrete implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy and specialist allowances; and the urgent resolution of all other outstanding issues as detailed in our previous communications.”

NARD highlighted that it is ironic that the Ministry lectures the association on respecting labour laws while consistently disregarding the fundamental rights of workers and flouting mutually agreed-upon timelines.

“Our patience has been exhausted by years of conciliatory meetings that yield nothing but press releases filled with hollow victories.

“NARD remains open to dialogue, but this dialogue must be result-oriented. We call on the government to shift its energy from crafting misleading press statements to undertaking the concrete actions required to resolve this crisis.

“The health of our nation is in the balance, and the responsibility to restore stability lies squarely with the government,” it concluded.