The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has extended by 24 hours its deadline for the federal government to meet its demands or face a nationwide strike.
The association had given the federal government a 10-day ultimatum to meet its outstanding demands, which elapsed on Wednesday night.
Zenith Osundare, president of NARD, in a terse statement to BusinessDay on Thursday morning, informed that at the expiration of the ultimatum, the federal government, consisting of the Ministry of Labour and Health, met with the association and again promised to address their concerns.
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Consequently, he said the association resolved, after a six-hour emergency meeting, to give the government one final window to deliver on commitments.
“The Federal Government called us yesterday and promised to address our concerns. We had our meeting and after a six-hour deliberation decided to give government the next 24 hours to ensure disbursements of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to beneficiaries, for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to upgrade our membership certificates and attend to our other demands,” Osundare said.
Resident doctors, who make up the bulk of Nigeria’s hospital workforce, are demanding immediate payment of the MRTF, a scheme designed to support specialist medical training, alongside reforms at the MDCN and settlement of outstanding allowances.
According to NARD, a significant number of doctors are still awaiting payment of their 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), while five months’ arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review remain outstanding. Arrears of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance have also not been paid.
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The doctors also criticised the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for downgrading membership certificates issued by the West African Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, and faulted the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) for delays in issuing certificates to successful candidates.
At the state level, NARD accused the Kaduna government of failing to honour agreements with resident doctors at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, despite signed memoranda of understanding. It also faulted the Oyo State government for neglecting welfare concerns at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho, where resident doctors remain on indefinite strike.
