Nigeria: Resident Doctors Give Govt 14-Day Ultimatum to Meet Demands or Face Industrial Action

The Nigerian Resident Doctors Association (NARD) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government, demanding that they address several welfare and professional issues. The ultimatum, effective from October 1, 2026, comes after ongoing delays in resolving various problems despite previous engagements and commitments from the government.

The doctors demand immediate payment of 19 months of Professional Allowance Table (PAT) arrears, as well as payment of outstanding arrears from the 25/35 percent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors and other health workers. They also call for the correction of errors in the payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and an upward review of the fund to reflect current costs.

The doctors urge the government to accelerate the resolution of the long-standing Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Nigerian Medical Association and implement a sustainable recruitment system to address the workforce shortages caused by brain drain. They also request the implementation of approved work-hour regulations, a biometric system to document working hours, and compensation for excess workload.

Additionally, the doctors demand improvements in healthcare infrastructure, equipment, and essential medical facilities to ensure patient safety, effective healthcare delivery, and the training of resident doctors. If the government fails to address these demands within the 14-day ultimatum, the doctors have threatened to take further lawful and constitutionally sanctioned actions, including industrial action.