The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the federal government a 10-day ultimatum, threatening a nationwide strike if their welfare demands are not met.
The ultimatum, which expires on September 10 was a key outcome of the association’s recent Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Sunday.
The decision follows a series of unfulfilled promises by the government. NARD had previously issued a three-week ultimatum in July, which they extended by another three weeks in a bid to allow for negotiations.
However, the doctors claim the government has failed to address their core concerns, leading to the latest strike threat.
A press statement from NARD outlined their primary demands:
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Immediate payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
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Payment of the outstanding five-month arrears from the new Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review.
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Resolution of other salary arrears, particularly for doctors in federal and state hospitals.
In addition to these financial demands, NARD also expressed strong disapproval of the downgrading of their membership certificates and the non-issuance of membership certificates.
The association singled out the governments of Kaduna and Oyo States for their failure to address local challenges faced by their members.
The impending strike raises concerns about a potential disruption to healthcare services across the country if the government and NARD fail to reach an agreement before the deadline.
