The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has dismissed as misleading and inaccurate the Federal Ministry of Labour’s claims that significant progress has been made in addressing the union’s demands.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NARD expressed disappointment over a press release circulated by officials of the Labour Ministry on 19 November, which suggested that a “high percentage” of the doctors’ grievances had been resolved.
According to the association, the ministry’s account does not reflect the reality of its negotiations with the government or the conditions that prompted the ongoing nationwide strike.
NARD noted that a detailed review conducted during its Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on 17 November showed that “not a single one” of its 19 core demands had been fully met, contrary to the ministry’s assertions.
The association argued that what government officials described as progress amounted largely to promises, pending approvals, and newly set-up committees, patterns it said had long characterised the government’s unfulfilled commitments.
NARD also challenged the ministry’s claim that payment of the 25%/35% CONMESS review and the 2024 accoutrement allowances had commenced up to December 2024.
It stressed that none of its members nationwide had received such payments, adding that statements about reconciling omissions merely highlighted unresolved issues.
“An announcement of intent is not a substitute for a credited salary,” the group said.
The association further criticised the ministry’s comments that issues such as specialist allowances and arrears owed to doctors in federal institutions, including the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; FMC Owo; and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital—were still being “compiled” for submission to the Budget Office.