..says strike continues until govt takes concrete actions, not empty promises
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has countered the federal government for “misleading the public” over the status of negotiations on the ongoing nationwide strike, insisting that none of its 19 demands has been implemented.
In a statement on Thursday signed by its President, Mohammad Usman Suleiman; Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary General; and Abdulmajid Ibrahim, Publicity and Social Secretary, NARD condemned a press release issued by officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour on 19 November asserting that a “high percentage” of NARD’s demands have been met.
According to the association, the assertion is not only inaccurate “but a deliberate attempt to mislead the Nigerian public and undermine the legitimate struggle of our members”, insisting that the press release grossly misrepresents the state of negotiations and the reality of ongoing industrial action.
Read also: FG urges doctors to end strike, approves 25%/35% CONMESS, 18 other demands
“Our Extra-Ordinary National Executive Council meeting of 17th November 2025 meticulously reviewed the government’s position and found that, contrary to the Ministry’s claims, not a single one of our 19 core demands has been fully and verifiably met.
“What the Ministry characterizes as progress are, in fact, unfulfilled promises, uncommenced payments, and newly formed committees — a familiar cycle of delay and deception that prompted this strike in the first place”, the association stated.
The ongoing strike by resident doctors, which began on 1 November, has severely disrupted healthcare services across Nigeria, forcing many hospitals to provide skeletal services or suspend critical services entirely.
Patients have faced delays in treatment, and delayed surgeries, highlighting the strain on an already fragile health system. The Resident Doctors have insisted that it will not back down until its minimum demands are met with concrete actions.
On Payments and Allowances, NARD said the ministry’s claim that payment for the 25%/35% CONMESS review and 2024 accoutrement allowances “has commenced up to December 2024” is, at best, an anticipation of action, not action itself.
“Our members across the country have not received these payments. Similarly, the claim of “working to reconcile” omissions and failed payments is an admission of an unresolved problem, not its solution. An announcement of intent is not a substitute for a credited salary”, it stated.
On Outstanding Arrears and Allowances, the association said the Ministry’s statement that issues like the specialist allowance, outstanding salaries, and arrears in hospitals like FTH Lokoja, FMC-Owo, UITH, and others were “accepted to compile the list” is a startling admission of inaction.
It decried that after years of dialogue, the fact that the government is still at the stage of “compiling lists” for the budget office confirms its central grievance, a crippling lack of urgency and implementation.
On Critical Welfare Issues, the Resident Doctors said the ministry’s release mentions that committees “were set up for necessary actions” regarding the disengaged doctors of FTH Lokoja, manpower shortages, and the casualisation of doctors, adding that constituting a committee is not a resolution but often a bureaucratic tool for indefinite postponement.
“Our demand is for the immediate reinstatement of our colleagues in Lokoja and the concrete implementation of a one-for-one replacement policy to curb burnout, not the formation of another talking shop”, the association said.
On the Refusal to Sign the MoU, it noted that the minister’s insinuation that NARD “outrightly refused to sign the MoU” is a misrepresentation of fact.
“We refuse to sign any Memorandum of Understanding that is built on a foundation of unfulfilled promises and lacks clear, binding, and time-bound deliverables. We will not be party to an agreement that merely papers over cracks while our members continue to suffer. An MoU that does not guarantee immediate and verifiable action is not worth the paper it is written on”, it stated.
The Association emphasised that its position remains unchanged and the nationwide total, indefinite, and comprehensive strike action, which commenced on 1st November 2025, continues.
“As resolved by our NEC, the strike will persist until our minimum demands, which constitute the barest minimum for a dignified and sustainable medical practice in Nigeria, are met. These include:i. Immediate reinstatement of the five disengaged doctors at FTH Lokoja with full compensation.ii. Immediate release and payment of the corrected professional allowances and all outstanding salary/allowance arrears.iii. iv. Concrete implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy and specialist allowances.Urgent resolution of all other outstanding issues as detailed in our previous communications.A Final Appeal:
“We find it ironic that the Ministry lectures NARD on respecting labour laws while consistently disregarding the fundamental rights of workers and flouting mutually agreed-upon timelines. Our patience has been exhausted by years of conciliatory meetings that yield nothing but press releases filled with hollow victories. NARD remains open to dialogue, but this dialogue must be result-oriented.
“We call on the government to shift its energy from crafting misleading press statements to undertaking the concrete actions required to resolve this crisis. The health of our nation is in the balance, and the responsibility to restore stability lies squarely with the government. Long Live the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors.Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the association stated.
