The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a 10-day ultimatum to all relevant government agencies.
The warning was issued in a communiqué signed by Tope Osundara, its President; Oluwasola Odunbaku, its general secretary; and Omoha Amobi, its publicity and social secretary; after an extraordinary national executive council (E-NEC) meeting held virtually on Sunday.
Resident doctors are medical school graduates training as specialists. They dominate the emergency wards of hospitals in Nigeria and are crucial to healthcare delivery nationwide.
NARD issued a three-week ultimatum, which was subsequently extended by three weeks, to engage with all relevant stakeholders, after which it would reconvene to reassess the extent of implementation of its demands.
During Sunday’s meeting, the E-NEC condemned the federal government’s failure to fulfil its promises, noting that a substantial number of resident doctors remain unpaid for their 2025 medical residency training fund.
The association also condemned the non-payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, and the outstanding five months’ arrears arising from the 25 percent/35 percent consolidated medical salary structure review.
“The E-NEC expressed displeasure over the unjust downgrading of the membership certificates of the West African Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, as well as the persistent non-issuance of membership certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria,” the communiqué reads.
“The E-NEC condemned in strong terms the failure of the Kaduna State Government to honour its commitments to members under ARD Kaduna and Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, despite earlier agreements and signed Memoranda of Understanding
