The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has extended by four weeks its expired 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, warning that it could embark on industrial action if its demands remain unmet.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting, held virtually on Saturday.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim.
NARD said the extension followed a review of the government’s response after the 21-day ultimatum issued during its May Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) expired without full implementation of its demands.
The association said the additional four-week window would give the Federal Government time to address the outstanding issues before its July National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Gombe State.
However, it declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government over unresolved welfare and professional issues affecting resident doctors nationwide.
The association warned that it could no longer guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four-week extension if the government failed to address its outstanding concerns.
“Consequently, the E-NEC mandated the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) to activate all necessary processes in preparation for appropriate industrial action should the government fail to demonstrate satisfactory compliance within the stipulated period,” the communiqué stated.
NARD said its decision followed extensive deliberations on reports presented by the NOC on engagements with relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government.
Although some progress had been recorded, it said key welfare issues remained unresolved despite repeated assurances by the Federal Government.
The unresolved issues include the non-disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, delayed payment of house officers’ salaries and outstanding entitlements in several centres.
Other demands include payment of the 25 and 35 per cent CONMESS upward review arrears, the outstanding 19-month professional allowance arrears, and unpaid salary and promotion arrears owed to doctors.
The association also called for accelerated implementation of the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement and the recommendations of ministerial committees on healthcare workers’ welfare and safety.
NARD reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement but said it reserved the right to take appropriate action if the outstanding issues remained unresolved after the four-week extension.
NAN reports that the association had, at its May 2026 OGM, issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address unresolved welfare and professional concerns affecting resident doctors across the country.
The ultimatum expired before Saturday’s E-NEC meeting, where members reviewed the government’s level of compliance and agreed to grant an additional four-week window.
Source: NAN
