The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the federal government to meet its outstanding demands, which include a 25/35% upward revision of the CONMESS salary structure and the payment of other exceptional salaries.
This decision was detailed in a communiqué released following NARD’s May Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) and Scientific Conference, which took place from Monday, May 26 to Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Villa Hotel in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
“The OGM gives the National Officers’ Committee the next four weeks to continue engagement with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the above demands, after which the NEC will reappraise the situation.”
The meeting, with the theme “The Medical Profession: Policies, Politics, and Future Prospects”, also demanded full implementation of consequential adjustments to the 2019 and 2024 minimum wage on basic salaries and allowances, along with accrued arrears.
Expedite disbursement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF); completion of the 2023/2024 accoutrement allowance arrears by the federal government and Chief Medical Directors (CMDs); inclusion of resident doctors in the payment of specialist allowances; regularization and full remuneration of locum doctors, amongst others.
The communiqué, signed by Dr. Osundara Tope (President); Dr. Odunbaku Kazeem Oluwasola as Secretary-General; and Dr. Amobi Omoha, the Public and Social Secretary, expressed dismay over the ongoing short-changing of doctors for 16 years due to a lack of proper salary adjustments, which breaches the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“The OGM strongly condemns the continued and persistent casualisation and consequent poor remuneration of doctors by the chief executives of tertiary hospitals,” the communiqué stated.
The association highlighted the delay in resolving welfare issues at OAUTHC, including the non-payment of March 2024 salaries and 7–14 months’ salary arrears owed to residents and medical officers.
Despite the concerns raised, NARD acknowledged the efforts of the federal government, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, IPPIS, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Registrar of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in addressing the backlog of the MRTF from 2022 to 2024. It also commended the ongoing progress in processing the 2025 MRTF.
