RESIDENT DOCTORS GIVE FG 21-DAYS ULTIMATUM TO CLEAR UNPAID ALLOWANCE, SALARY ARREARS
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BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the federal government 21 days to address unpaid allowances, salary delays, slow payments for training, and growing worries about the well–being of its members in the health sector across the country.
After its ordinary general meeting in Kano, the group said it can’t promise to keep things calm in the workplace if these problems aren’t solved within the 21-day time frame.
The statement was signed by Mohammad Suleiman, the president, Shuaibu Ibrahim, the secretary–general, and Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the publicity and social secretary, on Friday.
NARD said the federal government had failed to fulfil several commitments to doctors despite repeated assurances and engagements.
“The association hereby declares an industrial dispute with the federal government of Nigeria on the outlined matters above and cannot guarantee industrial harmony after the 21-day window period given to address all the demands,” the communique reads.
The association said it is giving the federal government the 21-day window to commence concrete actions towards the development and implementation of a national healthcare workers assault prevention and response protocol and the initiation of the necessary legislative process to address the menace.
NARD also asked for the release and payment of the 2026 medical residency training fund (MRTF) to all qualified resident doctors across the country within the next 21 days.
The association raised concerns about unpaid salaries and promotion delays in several federal and state health institutions, as well as differences in professional allowances that were shown in members‘ May 2026 salaries.
It highlighted the welfare issues affecting house officers, including salary delays, unpaid arrears, and difficulties with internship placement and onboarding processes that remain unresolved.
It also accused Motunrayo Omidiran, executive chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), of delaying the issuance of letters of compliance to federal health institutions, noting that the delay has hampered recruitment efforts, manpower shortages, and brain drain in the sector.
NARD expressed worries about the increasing assaults, harassment, intimidation, and violent attacks against doctors while on duty, demanding the arrests, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators.
It called for the establishment of a national healthcare workers’ assault prevention and response protocol within 21 days by the federal government and security agencies.
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