The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its five-day warning strike after two days, granting the Federal Government a two-week window to address their outstanding demands.
NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, said the decision was taken as a show of goodwill to Nigerians and to give the government time to act. The association will reconvene on September 26 during its Annual General Meeting to determine whether to resume industrial action.
“It is because we want the government, having negotiated with us, to give them ample time to perfect their plans in addressing all the other concerns,” Osundara told our correspondent on Sunday.
He stressed that the doctors were not abandoning their demands but temporarily suspending action. “We just want to give a human face and also extend this olive branch to the government. And we do hope that within this period of two weeks, they will be able to attend to everything contained in our list of demands,” he said.
NARD had declared the strike last Friday following a series of ultimatums, including a 21-day notice in July, a 10-day extension, and a final 24-hour deadline that expired on September 10.
Their demands include:
Immediate payment of the outstanding 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
Settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35% CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure) review.
Payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears.
Prompt disbursement of specialist allowances.
Restoration of recognition of the West African postgraduate membership certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Issuance of membership certificates to all deserving candidates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
Full implementation of the 2024 CONMESS circular.
Resolution of welfare concerns in Kaduna State and at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
So far, Osundara noted, the government has only acted on one of the demands — the payment of the 2025 MRTF to previously omitted members. “Aside from that, nothing else has been done. We still have unpaid arrears, and we have a shortage of manpower,” he said, adding that delays in correcting the CONMESS circular have shortchanged doctors for over a decade.
He warned that if the government fails to act by the September 26 review date, NARD may escalate its actions. “By September 26, we would know the next line of action,” he said.
On the separate strike in Oyo State, Osundara clarified that the suspension did not affect doctors at LAUTECH-TH, Ogbomoso. “We’ve allowed them to continue, and we’ve given the Oyo State Government 15 days to meet their demands. After that, we’ll tell our members across Oyo State to shut down immediately,” he stated.
