ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government and issued a fresh four-week ultimatum over unresolved welfare and professional concerns, warning that it cannot guarantee industrial harmony beyond the deadline.
The decision was reached at an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Saturday, the association confirmed in a communiqué issued on Sunday. NARD accused the Federal Government and several health institutions of failing to honour agreements on outstanding allowances, salary arrears and the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
“NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments,” the communiqué stated. The association also decried the non-payment of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary review arrears and the 19 months’ Professional Allowance arrears.
The doctors raised concerns over the alleged victimisation of members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, and condemned alleged moves by the hospital management to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors despite a government circular abolishing the practice. NARD further criticised the Lagos University Teaching Hospital for allegedly failing to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty.
The association demanded the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of outstanding salary and allowance arrears, implementation of the revised CONMESS structure, and improved protection for health workers. “The association cannot guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four-week window if all its demands are not fully addressed,” the communiqué warned.
NARD said compliance would be reviewed at its July 2026 NEC meeting in Gombe State.
The ultimatum comes amid growing frustration among medical professionals over worsening working conditions, with many doctors raising concerns about inadequate welfare packages, delayed salaries, and poor protection of health workers in the line of duty.
The Federal Government has yet to issue an official response to the ultimatum. However, the Minister of Health has previously assured that the government is working to address the concerns of health workers, including the implementation of the revised CONMESS structure and the release of outstanding allowances.
As the four-week window begins, patients and healthcare stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the government will act to avert another disruptive strike in Nigeria’s already overstretched health sector. For now, the doctors have made their position clear: without concrete action, industrial action is inevitable.
