By Christopher Tom, Uyo
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has expressed deep dissatisfaction over the persistent infrastructural decay and neglect of healthcare workers’ welfare by the Federal Government and some state governments, warning that the country’s health sector is now in a precarious state.
The association said this neglect has hampered the sector’s ability to discharge its vital responsibility of safeguarding lives, while also fueling a massive brain drain as medical professionals flee abroad in search of better working conditions.
This concern was the focal point of discussions during the 2025 Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of NARD, which ended over the weekend in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
In a communique jointly signed by the President General, Dr. Osundara Tope; General Secretary, Dr. Odunbaku Oluwasola; and Public and Social Secretary, Dr. Amobi Omoha, the association demanded that all outstanding welfare issues, employment concerns, and casualisation of labour be resolved within the next four months.
According to the communique, some of the unresolved grievances include the non-payment of arrears of the revised 25/35 percent CONMESS, unpaid salary arrears, and non-payment of special allowances.
Parts of the communique read:
> “The OGM demands full implementation of the consequential adjustments to the 2019 and 2024 minimum wage on basic salaries and allowances, along with accrued arrears.”
> “The OGM urges the Federal Government to expedite the payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).”
> “The OGM calls on all Chief Medical Directors (CMDs), Medical Directors (MDs), and the Federal Government to ensure immediate payment of the 2023/2024 accoutrement allowance arrears.”
> “The OGM strongly condemns the continued and persistent casualisation and poor remuneration of doctors by the chief executives of tertiary hospitals.”
> “The OGM expresses displeasure over the delay in addressing welfare issues at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), including the non-payment of March 2024 salaries and the 7 to 14 months’ salary arrears still owed to Resident Doctors and Medical Officers.”
The medical professionals insisted that only the immediate implementation of their demands would guarantee industrial harmony and their continued commitment to healthcare delivery in the country. They warned that failure to meet these demands would force them to reconvene and reassess their next line of action.
Despite their grievances, NARD commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and several state governors—particularly those of Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi, Benue, Kwara, Delta, and Enugu—for their demonstrated commitment to health sector reforms and improvements in healthcare
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