The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has dismissed claims by the Federal Ministry of Labour that the government has met a significant portion of the doctors’ demands, describing the claim as misleading and inconsistent with the realities of the ongoing nationwide strike.
The association insisted that the indefinite strike, which commenced on 1 November, will continue until the government meets its minimum conditions.
NARD also refuted comments by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, that it refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding. The association clarified that it declined to endorse the document because it contained no binding timelines, verifiable actions, or guarantees of implementation.
According to NARD, signing such an agreement would amount to legitimising promises that have repeatedly gone unfulfilled.
“On the refusal to sign the MoU, the Minister’s insinuation that NARD outrightly refused to sign the MoU is a misrepresentation of fact.
“We refuse to sign any Memorandum of Understanding that is built on a foundation of unfulfilled promises and lacks clear, binding, and time-bound deliverables.
“We will not be party to an agreement that merely papers over cracks while our members continue to suffer. A MoU that does not guarantee immediate and verifiable action is not worth the paper it is written on”.
The association’s position was contained in a rebuttal issued on Thursday and jointly signed by Dr Mohammad Usman Suleiman, President; Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary General; and Dr Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, Publicity and Social Secretary, where the association said none of its 19 core demands has been fully or verifiably met.
NARD said its Extra-Ordinary National Executive Council meeting of 17 November reviewed the government’s position and found that what the ministry presented as progress amounted to unfulfilled promises, unimplemented decisions, and newly formed committees.
The association regretted that government tactics mirror the pattern of delays and broken assurances that triggered the industrial action.
The doctors dismissed the ministry’s claims on the commencement of the 25 percent and 35 percent CONMESS review payments and the 2024 accoutrement allowance.
They argued that no member of the association has received the payments and that ongoing attempts to reconcile omissions and failed transfers only confirm the lack of implementation.
NARD said anticipation of payment cannot be portrayed as actual progress, faulting the ministry’s handling of outstanding arrears, allowances and specialist payments in several federal hospitals.
It said the admission that the government is still compiling lists for the Budget Office, despite years of dialogue, shows the absence of urgency, noting this reinforces its members’ frustration with a system that repeatedly defers action while worsening working conditions persist.
On welfare concerns, NARD criticised the reliance on committees to address issues such as the disengagement of doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; manpower shortages; and casualisation.
The association said the concerns require direct intervention, not another layer of bureaucracy, demanding the immediate reinstatement of the dismissed doctors and the full implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy to curb burnout across teaching hospitals.
These include the reinstatement of the five disengaged doctors in Lokoja, immediate payment of corrected professional allowances and all outstanding arrears, and concrete implementation of specialist allowances and staffing policies.
NARD accused the Ministry of Labour of lecturing doctors on compliance with labour laws while failing to uphold previously agreed timelines and obligations.
It said its patience has been stretched by years of meetings that produce communiqués but no action.
The association restated its willingness to engage in dialogue but insisted that discussions must lead to tangible outcomes, while urging the government to shift focus from issuing what it described as misleading statements and instead take the steps needed to resolve the industrial crisis.
According to NARD, the government bears full responsibility for restoring stability to the health sector, which remains burdened by unresolved welfare, staffing and remuneration issues.
Meanwhile, as the nationwide strike by resident doctors entered its 20th day, coupled with the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) strike, a visit to the National Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja on Thursday revealed the deepening paralysis of services, with both facilities recording sharply reduced patient turnout and limited clinical activity.
At both centres, resident doctors and many categories of health workers were absent from their duty posts, leaving consultants, nurses and a handful of other staff to keep skeletal services running.
In several departments, those present were seen sitting idle, with little or no patient flow, however, a handful of in-patients were noticed on their beds.
A nurse who spoke at the National Hospital said they were compelled to remain on duty despite the strike.
“We (nurses) are not on strike yet, so we have to be at work because there may be emergencies and we have to do what we have to,” she said.
The National Trauma Centre within the National Hospital also remained open, but activity was similarly reduced with only consultants and nurses seen around.
At the emergency department, the impact was more visible, with the hall empty of patients and several beds folded away.
At the centre, a nurse and a consultant were overheard advising a parent who came in to inquire whether his child, who had been involved in a domestic bicycle accident, could be treated at the facility.
The consultant explained the limitations caused by the ongoing strike, offering careful guidance.
“If his situation is not life-threatening, I will advise you to take him to a private hospital. Even if we ask you to bring him, your location is too far from here, besides, we can’t access other necessary departments, critical to his examination and care as they are on strike,” the consultant said.
He added that emergency care would still be provided in critical circumstances, “If the situation is life-threatening and you bring him here immediately, we will attend to him and advise you on the next right step to take.”
