The Federal Government has said the ongoing industrial action by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is driven by long-standing structural and policy challenges within the health sector rather than neglect by the current administration.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, made this known on Tuesday, noting that the government has shown clear commitment to improving the welfare of health workers through recent reforms.
According to him, the administration approved an upward review of professional allowances valued at about ₦90 billion annually in November 2025. The revised package covers call duty, shift duty, non-clinical duty, and rural posting allowances, and was negotiated collectively with all health professional groups.
Salako explained that previous negotiations in the sector were often fragmented, with different professional bodies engaging the government separately. He said this approach led to conflicting agreements on pay parity and frequently resulted in industrial actions. The current administration, he added, has adopted a collective bargaining model to promote inclusiveness and reduce disputes.
While reaffirming the government’s commitment to better remuneration for healthcare workers, the minister stressed that salary reviews must be balanced with other national priorities such as education, security, and infrastructure development.
On the current demands by NARD, Salako noted that the association’s requests have reduced from 19 to nine items, describing this as progress in ongoing discussions. However, he said some demands are constrained by existing public service rules and approved schemes of service.
Addressing the demand for specialist allowances for resident doctors, the minister said residents are specialists-in-training and that the allowance is, by regulation, reserved for consultants. He added that extending the benefit could prompt similar claims from other workers undergoing specialist training, as warned by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
On concerns over delays in certification, Salako clarified that the National Postgraduate Medical College does not issue certificates after Part I examinations and that the Ministry lacks the authority to alter the institution’s policies.
Regarding the disengagement of five resident doctors in Lokoja, he said the action followed established civil service disciplinary procedures. A ministerial review, he disclosed, has recommended the reinstatement of two doctors, reprimand for two others, and a fresh hearing for the remaining one.
Salako assured Nigerians that the Ministry of Health, working with the Ministry of Labour and other stakeholders, remains committed to sustained dialogue aimed at stabilising the health sector and preventing disruptions in healthcare delivery.
NARD represents medical doctors undergoing postgraduate training in teaching hospitals nationwide and has frequently embarked on industrial action to demand improved working conditions, timely payment of allowances, and fair remuneration.