Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to resolve outstanding welfare and professional issues affecting its members, warning that failure to act could trigger nationwide industrial action.
The ultimatum was issued at NARD’s 46th Annual General Meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State, on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The association’s new National President, Dr Emmanuel Ogar Idoko, announced the resolutions reached at the meeting, where resident doctors reviewed the implementation of previous agreements with the Federal Government and expressed concern over what they described as prolonged delays.
Doctors Demand Implementation of Existing Agreements
NARD said several agreements previously reached with the Federal Government had not been fully implemented despite repeated engagements and assurances.
The association is demanding urgent action on issues covering remuneration, career progression, professional allowances, excessive workload, manpower shortages and the general welfare of resident doctors.
According to reports on the resolutions, NARD said the delays had become unacceptable and called for the immediate implementation of outstanding agreements relating to the conditions of service and professional development of its members.
The doctors also demanded the prompt payment of outstanding salaries and entitlements owed to house officers, as well as a standardised mechanism for compensating doctors who take on additional responsibilities because of staff shortages.
Workload and Manpower Shortages
A major concern raised by the resident doctors is the pressure created by inadequate manpower in public hospitals.
NARD said shortages of medical personnel have increased the workload of doctors who remain in the country, with resident doctors increasingly required to handle responsibilities beyond normal staffing arrangements.
The association linked the manpower problem partly to the continued migration of Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals abroad.
The issue has become a recurring concern in Nigeria’s health sector, where medical professionals have continued to seek opportunities outside the country amid concerns over remuneration, working conditions, career development and the broader operating environment.
NARD has therefore called for measures to address the underlying factors contributing to the loss of healthcare professionals and the resulting pressure on those working in Nigerian hospitals.
Salary and Professional Allowances Among Key Issues
The association also wants the government to address concerns over remuneration and professional allowances.
NARD said the existing salary structure for resident doctors does not adequately reflect prevailing economic conditions and called for outstanding financial obligations to be addressed.
The doctors’ position comes after several rounds of negotiations and strike threats during 2026.
In June, NARD declared an industrial dispute and issued a 21-day ultimatum over unresolved issues including the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, salary-related arrears and welfare concerns.
In July, the association again threatened nationwide industrial action over outstanding demands. That planned action was later suspended in August following discussions with the Federal Government, with both sides reporting progress on issues involving salaries, promotions, allowances and welfare.
The latest ultimatum indicates that some issues remain unresolved despite those engagements.
NARD Raises Concern Over Safety of Health Workers
The resident doctors are also calling for stronger measures to protect healthcare workers from assaults in hospitals.
NARD has demanded full enforcement of policies designed to protect medical personnel and improve security within healthcare facilities.
The demand comes amid repeated concerns about attacks on healthcare workers, particularly in high-pressure hospital environments.
The association has argued that doctors and other healthcare professionals require a safer working environment to provide effective medical services.
Hospital Infrastructure and Funding
Beyond salaries and allowances, NARD is asking for improvements in hospital infrastructure and medical equipment.
The association has called on governments to provide facilities capable of supporting effective patient care and appropriate training for resident doctors.
It also urged the National Assembly to strengthen healthcare funding through improved budgetary allocations.
The association’s demands therefore extend beyond individual welfare issues to broader questions about the capacity of Nigeria’s public healthcare system.
Adequate staffing, equipment, infrastructure and funding are particularly important for teaching hospitals, where resident doctors provide clinical services while undergoing specialist training.
Previous Strike Threats
The latest two-week ultimatum is not the first time NARD has threatened industrial action in 2026.
In July, the association announced plans for a nationwide strike beginning August 10 if the Federal Government failed to address outstanding demands, including salary and allowance arrears and welfare issues.
The planned strike was subsequently suspended following government engagement.
TheCable reported at the time that NARD said discussions with the Presidency produced agreements concerning salaries, promotions, allowances and welfare concerns.
The latest development suggests that the association is again pressing the government to translate previous agreements and commitments into concrete implementation.
Separate Disputes Affect Resident Doctors
The latest federal ultimatum also comes against the background of separate disputes involving resident doctors at state-owned hospitals.
Earlier in September, resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, in Oyo State, embarked on industrial action over welfare and remuneration issues.
NARD subsequently expressed solidarity with the doctors and warned that the dispute could be escalated if the state government failed to resolve the outstanding concerns.
Resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital have also been involved in an industrial dispute over outstanding allowances and salary-related arrears. Reports said the LASUTH doctors declared an indefinite strike in September over unresolved welfare issues.
These separate disputes highlight the wider challenges surrounding remuneration, staffing and working conditions across parts of Nigeria’s public health system.
Why the Ultimatum Matters
Resident doctors form an important part of Nigeria’s hospital workforce, particularly in federal and teaching hospitals where they combine specialist training with clinical responsibilities.
A nationwide strike could therefore affect hospital services, including routine medical care, emergency services, specialist consultations and other forms of treatment provided in public hospitals.
However, NARD has not announced that a nationwide strike has already begun.
The current position is that the Federal Government has been given two weeks to address the association’s outstanding demands. Industrial action would become a possible next step if the government fails to meet the demands within the specified period.
This distinction is important because negotiations between the government and medical associations have previously resulted in strike suspensions after agreements or commitments were reached.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus will be on discussions between NARD and the Federal Government during the two-week window.
The association is seeking implementation of outstanding agreements, resolution of remuneration and allowance issues, measures to address manpower shortages and excessive workloads, protection for healthcare workers, better hospital infrastructure and increased investment in the health sector.
NARD is expected to assess the government’s response when the ultimatum expires before deciding on its next course of action.
For the Federal Government, resolving the dispute would require addressing both the specific employment concerns raised by resident doctors and the wider structural pressures affecting Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
For patients, the outcome of the negotiations will be significant because any nationwide industrial action could affect healthcare delivery across public hospitals.
The present development is therefore a warning of possible disruption rather than confirmation that a nationwide strike has commenced.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)
- News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
- Vanguard
- TheCable
- Premium Times
- The PUNCH
