The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has scheduled an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting to review its 30-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government, as tensions rise over unresolved welfare and policy issues affecting medical practitioners nationwide.
According to a notice obtained by Punch on Tuesday, the virtual meeting will hold on Saturday, October 25, 2025, and is expected to determine whether the union will escalate its industrial action.
The notice, signed by NARD Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, was addressed to National Officers’ Committee members, Caucus Leaders, Centre Presidents, and General Secretaries.
“I am writing to inform you that an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting has been scheduled for Saturday, 25th October 2025. Your presence and participation are crucial in addressing the matter at hand,” the letter stated.
On September 26, NARD had given the Federal Government a 30-day deadline to resolve long-standing issues including unpaid allowances, irregular salaries, and poor working conditions.
The association lamented the unregulated work hours—sometimes stretching for several days—describing them as “unsustainable” and dangerous to both doctors’ health and patient safety.
Other grievances include:
- Non-payment of the 25% and 35% CONMESS arrears, due since August 2025.
- The dismissal of five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, deemed unjust and insensitive.
- Unpaid promotion arrears, non-payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance, and delays in upgrading doctors after postgraduate exams.
- Exclusion from specialist allowances despite rendering advanced clinical services.
- Downgrading of newly employed doctors’ salary grades from CONMESS 3 Step 3 to CONMESS 2 Step 2.
- Casualisation of medical staff for up to a decade without job security.
Failure to implement special pension benefits agreed upon with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in July 2025.
The group linked the ongoing brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector to poor remuneration, decaying infrastructure, and outdated equipment that hamper both patient care and residency training.
NARD also warned against the creation of consultant cadres for non-medical doctors, describing it as a threat to patient safety and professional integrity.
As the October 25 meeting approaches, observers are watching closely to see if the association will proceed with an industrial strike, should the Federal Government fail to meet its demands.
