FG to Resident Doctors: Suspend Strike as 19 of 20 Demands Met

By Chinedu Echianu

The Federal Government has appealed to the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to suspend its ongoing strike, insisting that it has already met 19 out of the 20 demands presented by the union.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammad Maigari Dingyadi, made the call in Abuja, urging the doctors to respect the nation’s labour laws and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. He noted that once issues have been tabled for conciliation, parties are expected to refrain from actions that could coerce or undermine negotiations.

Dingyadi in a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations at the ministry of Labour, Annah Daniel stressed that with substantial progress made during multiple negotiation meetings, NARD had no justification to continue its industrial action.

He disclosed that the government had implemented the 25% and 35% upward review of CONMESS, and that payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowances had commenced up to December 2024. He added that unresolved cases related to bank issues or omissions were being jointly reviewed by IPPIS and NARD.

The Minister also highlighted steps taken to address other concerns, including specialist allowances for resident doctors, outstanding salaries and arrears in several federal and state hospitals, and special pension benefits earlier agreed in a memorandum with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). He said the Federal Ministry of Health had begun compiling the list of outstanding arrears for submission to the Budget Office.

On issues such as the disengagement of five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; manpower shortages; exclusion of house officers from the scheme of service; and alleged casualisation through locum arrangements, Dingyadi said necessary committees and authorization processes had been initiated to resolve them.

He further noted that delays in releasing correct professional allowances were being addressed, with the Ministry of Health engaging the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and directing that an updated circular be issued within two weeks. However, he stated that NARD declined to sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) associated with these resolutions.

The Minister urged the association to call off the strike for the sake of patients and national interest.