The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address outstanding welfare and policy demands affecting its members.
The body warned of possible industrial action if the issues remain unresolved.
The resolution was contained in a communiqué signed by NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim, at the end of the association’s 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference held in Katsina State from September 21 to 26.
The key demands include the immediate payment of accumulated promotion arrears, release of corrected professional allowance tables, reinstatement of five sacked doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and urgent action on the long-stalled review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
“The AGM demands that the Federal Government urgently pay all accumulated promotion arrears owed to our members across all federal institutions within 30 days.
“The AGM gives the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Management of FTH Lokoja 30 days to reinstate the five sacked medical doctors,” the communiqué stated.
Resident doctors also condemned what they described as excessive and unsafe working hours, directing members to desist from more than 24 consecutive hours of call duty effective October 1.
“The AGM calls on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to develop and implement clear, healthy call duty working hours for doctors in line with international best practices,” the communiqué added.
The association further decried worsening brain drain, casualisation of medical personnel, poor hospital infrastructure, and the exclusion of house officers from the civil service scheme.
It urged the government to adopt a one-for-one replacement policy to address manpower shortages in hospitals.