By Chidinma Nwaoji
NARD Declares Indefinite Strike, Accuses FG of Owing ₦38bn in Allowances
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has accused the Federal Government of owing doctors and other health workers across the country about ₦38 billion in unpaid allowances.
NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while presenting the outcome of the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which followed the expiration of its 30-day ultimatum to the government.
Suleiman warned that resident doctors had already begun patient handovers and ward rounds in preparation for a total and indefinite nationwide strike set to commence on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
He explained that the outstanding payments cut across all categories of health workers, including administrative staff, and span several years.
“Some allowances have been pending for over two years, others for 18 months, seven months, four months, and even as far back as 10 years. For 16 years, doctors’ basic salaries have not been reviewed,” Suleiman said.
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He added that the government owes about ₦35–₦38 billion in total allowances for the health sector, with resident doctors’ share estimated at ₦400 million, while all doctors in the country are owed between ₦600 million and ₦800 million.
The NARD president lamented that doctors continue to face stagnant wages, overwhelming workloads, and poor welfare conditions, warning that the situation has become unsustainable.
According to him, the association has tabled 19 key demands before the government as minimum conditions to avert the indefinite strike.
He noted that following the suspension of the earlier five-day warning strike in September, NARD had extended its ultimatum by an additional 30 days during its Annual General Meeting in Katsina State — a grace period that has now expired without meaningful response from the government.
After deliberating on reports from affected states and federal institutions, the NEC accused the government of failing to settle the arrears from the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review and unpaid accoutrement allowances despite repeated assurances.
Among its resolutions, the NEC demanded the immediate payment of the 25–35 per cent CONMESS arrears and other pending entitlements, reinstatement of five sacked resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the implementation of a humane working-hours policy to protect both doctors and patients.
The council also called for the full enforcement of the “one-for-one” replacement policy to address shortages caused by the mass exodus of medical professionals, as well as the upgrade of hospital infrastructure and equipment nationwide.
Other demands include the prompt payment of specialist allowances, uniform implementation of CONMESS across all institutions, inclusion of house officers in the civil service structure, and an end to the casualisation of doctors.
Suleiman further urged the government to fast-track the Collective Bargaining Agreement review and implement previously agreed special pension benefits for medical practitioners.
Declaring the strike, he stated,
“All resident doctors in federal and state tertiary institutions are to withdraw their services completely and indefinitely from 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025, until the government shows genuine commitment to addressing our demands.”
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene in the crisis and ensure that the issues affecting doctors and the health sector are resolved.
“Mr. President, we are the ones in the field serving Nigerians. Yet, we are the ones not being paid. We urge you, as the father of the nation, to step in and bring a lasting solution to this matter,” he said.
