CALABAR — The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to resolve outstanding welfare and professional issues affecting its members, warning that failure to meet its demands could trigger industrial action.
The ultimatum was contained in resolutions adopted at the association’s 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Calabar, Cross River State, on Sunday. The resolutions were read by NARD National President, Dr Emmanuel Ogar.
The resident doctors expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of implementing agreements reached with the Federal Government, describing the prolonged delays as unacceptable and calling for urgent intervention to prevent a breakdown of industrial harmony in the health sector.
The association’s demands include the immediate implementation of outstanding agreements, a review of doctors’ remuneration and professional salary structures, improved career progression, payment of professional allowances and measures to address excessive workloads and manpower shortages.
NARD said the existing remuneration framework no longer adequately reflected prevailing economic realities and called on the government to conclude the review of salary structures for medical practitioners.
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It also demanded appropriate compensation for resident doctors carrying additional responsibilities because of staff shortages in hospitals, urging the introduction of standardised templates for excess-workload payments and reliable data to support the compensation process.
The doctors further raised concerns over attacks on health workers, calling for the full implementation of existing policies and anti-assault measures to protect medical personnel in hospitals.
They also expressed alarm over the continued migration of doctors and other healthcare professionals from Nigeria, warning that the trend had worsened manpower shortages and increased the burden on medical personnel who remain in the country.
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NARD urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to urgently address the factors driving the migration of medical professionals, while calling on state governments to prioritise the welfare of doctors and other health workers employed by their institutions.
The association also demanded improved infrastructure, adequate medical equipment and better working conditions in healthcare facilities, stressing that these measures were essential to protecting patients and improving healthcare delivery.
It called on the National Assembly to strengthen budgetary allocations to the health sector, noting that adequate funding was critical to resolving the persistent challenges facing hospitals and healthcare workers.
On the welfare of house officers, the association demanded prompt payment of outstanding salaries and other entitlements, as well as their inclusion in relevant welfare arrangements.
Addressing the use of electronic clocking systems in hospitals, NARD clarified that it was not opposed to their deployment, provided the systems were properly implemented and used to improve data management rather than as punitive measures against medical personnel.
The association observed that several agreements and commitments reached with the Federal Government remained unresolved despite repeated meetings and assurances.
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It therefore urged the government to use the two-week ultimatum to address the outstanding demands, warning that failure to do so could lead to industrial action and further disruption of healthcare services.
NARD maintained that resolving the disputes would improve doctors’ welfare, reduce burnout and ultimately enhance the quality of healthcare available to Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the association elected new national officers at the AGM, with Dr Emmanuel Ogar emerging as president alongside other members of the National Executive Council.
The association urged the new leadership to pursue the implementation of the resolutions and sustain engagement with the Federal Government to secure improved conditions of service for resident doctors.
