- The meeting will assess the FG’s response to a 30-day ultimatum
- The government for failing to pay the 25% and 35% CONMESS arrears
- NARD attributed the sector’s worsening brain drain to poor conditions
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called for an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting scheduled to take place virtually on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the meeting will assess the Federal Government’s response to a 30-day ultimatum issued on September 26, addressing numerous unresolved welfare and policy concerns.
EDITOR’S PICK
- DSS Raises Alarm Over Imminent ISWAP Attacks in Ondo, Kogi
- Agboye Wins ₦5 Million Star Prize at Lagos’ ‘Eko Flavours Season 2’ Culinary Competition
- Lagos APC Passes Vote of Confidence in Tinubu, Calls for Continuity
In a notice signed by Secretary-General Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, the association emphasised the importance of full participation, as the outcome will influence any decision on potential industrial action.
NARD’s grievances include the excessive and unregulated work hours doctors endure, jeopardising both their health and patient safety. The association criticised the government for failing to pay the 25% and 35% CONMESS arrears due by August 2025, despite previous discussions.
The dismissal of five doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja was condemned, especially amid widespread burnout and an accelerating exodus of medical professionals.
Other key issues include the non-payment of promotion arrears, the delayed 2024 accoutrement allowance, and bureaucratic stagnation in updating salary scales following postgraduate qualifications.
NARD also decried the exclusion of resident doctors from specialist allowances and of house officers from the civil service scheme, which has led to poor recognition and delayed salaries.
Furthermore, it condemned the downgrading of new resident doctors’ salary levels, ongoing salary shortfalls, and the failure to implement the one-for-one replacement policy for exiting doctors.
The association criticised the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for downgrading membership certificates from regional colleges and faulted the delay in issuing certifications by the National Postgraduate Medical College.
It also condemned the creation of consultant roles for non-medical doctors and the lack of implementation of special pension benefits agreed upon in July 2025.
NARD attributed the sector’s worsening brain drain to poor conditions, outdated infrastructure, and inadequate compensation.
FURTHER READING
