Author: The Nation

• …rejects government’s MoU execution claims

• …seeks evidence of ₦90 billion budget allocation

The National Association of Resident Doctors on Tuesday dismissed claims that its renewed threat of industrial action was politically motivated, insisting the move had become unavoidable after weeks of unmet, shifting government positions, and deteriorating welfare conditions for doctors.

The association also rejected assertions that its Memorandum of Understanding with the government, which led to the suspension of an earlier strike, had been implemented. It maintained that none of the agreed demands had been fulfilled since the signing of the MoU, including the reported ₦90 billion allocation for health workers’ allowances in the 2026 budget.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, alongside other union leaders, said the association’s stance was driven solely by the need to safeguard the welfare and safety of its members, not by partisan considerations.

Suleiman described as illogical any suggestion that resident doctors would align with political actors who lack the authority to resolve their grievances.

“Now, you think I want to spoil the chances of my members getting their due diligence by going into romance with the opposition. Is the opposition in government? Do they have the responsibility to solve this problem? It is the people in government who have the responsibility to solve this problem,” he said.

He added that NARD remains committed to engaging the current administration, expressing confidence that it has both the mandate and the capacity to address the issues raised by the union.

“There is a government in power. And we are loyal and responsible patriotic Nigerians who believe that the government can solve our problems.

“If we do not believe that this government can solve our problems, we will not have even brought it to the table in the first place. We have the conviction that this government can solve this problem. As a union leader, I cannot afford not to have the conviction that this government can solve our problems.”

Appealing directly to President Bola Tinubu to intervene decisively in the health sector crisis, Suleiman said, “We believe this government is responsive and responsible. We believe that the President of the country, President Bola Tinubu, will hear our cry.

“He will hear our call to him to come in and solve the welfare of not just resident doctors, but the entire health sector once and for all.”

Explaining why the strike had become unavoidable, the NARD president said agreements reached with the Federal Government had repeatedly stalled, with new conditions introduced and some even reversed without consultation.

“Now, today, what we are hearing is that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) has to do a job evaluation before CBA can continue, and that that job evaluation must last six months. This has not been communicated to us, but it has been communicated to Nigeria’s public freely today in the media. So it is like the goalpost keeps changing,” he said.

He expressed doubt that the delays would end even if fresh conditions were met, saying, “I have the utmost confidence that even if the NSIWC finishes the job evaluation today, another reason will be concocted as to why CBA cannot continue.

“So perhaps it is time to come clean, not just to Nigerians, but to come clean to all healthcare workers. I think if the Federal Government is not interested in this issue, they should make it clear they are not interested in this issue,” he said.

He added that attempts to portray divisions among health workers were misleading, saying, “It is the responsibility of the government, and not doctors, to deliver health care services. We are just the tool in the hands of the Ministry of Health to deliver that.”

Suleiman said the National Executive Council (NEC) of NARD had already taken a firm position, “The NEC categorically stated if these issues are not sorted out, we will down tools. So that is the message from the NEC,” he said.

He noted that despite signing the MoU on November 27, and contrary to the Minister of State for Health Dr. Adekunle Salako’s claims, there had been no tangible progress.

Salako, on a national television morning show, said the Tinubu administration approved a review of health workers’ professional allowances, raising annual government spending by about ₦90 billion, covering call duty, shift duty, non-clinical and rural posting allowances, following joint negotiations with all health worker groups.

Salako added that NARD’s demands had dropped from 19 to nine, though some remaining issues are limited by civil service rules and approved schemes of service.

Affirming that none of the 19 demands, later reduced to nine, has been implemented, Suleiman said, “I can confirm to you that the MoU signed has a 27th of November. Today is the 6th of January, 2026. Every issue is either at the point where the MoU was on the 27th of November, or we have even gone backwards.”

On the claims by the Minister that ₦90 billion has been earmarked for the doctors’ claims in the 2026 budget, Suleiman challenged the government to demonstrate transparency.

“Since they have said it is ₦90 billion, let them show us inside the budget where they put that ₦90 billion. So that healthcare workers will have peace of mind that our allowances were adjusted appropriately,” he said.

Describing official statements as misleading, he added, “This is a gimmick. And I call it a gimmick so that Nigerians will look at us as being selfish.”

On the issue of unpaid arrears and omissions, Suleiman disclosed that about 40 percent of resident doctors were affected. “There are failed payments, which means the names were on the initial list, but the money has not arrived.

“The second problem is those that were supposed to be on the list at the initial that were omitted for one reason or another. And there is a lot in this category,” the NARD president noted.

He stressed that funding remained the responsibility of the government.l, noting, “The availability of the funds is the responsibility of the government.

“The money is still in the account. We have done our own by compiling failed payments and omissions, which is about 40 percent of our members. Now it is for the government to pay the remaining.

On professional allowances, Suleiman rejected claims that resident doctors were demanding fresh salary increases, adding, “It is not a salary increment. It is an injustice. When they brought 18 months, we accepted it because we wanted progress.”

Of concern, according to Suleiman, was the redeployment of five disengaged resident doctors of Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, instead of reinstating them with back pay as recommended by multiple investigative panels and reflected in the signed MoU.

The association also criticized delays in transmitting compiled promotion arrears from 62 tertiary health institutions to the Budget Office and Ministry of Finance, stalling promised payments.

Salary arrears across several federal hospitals remain unpaid, with backlogs ranging from four to over 20 months.

Further grievances include non-issuance of Part One certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College, non-recognition of West African College specialist certificates in Nigeria, and the abandonment of Committees meant to regulate excessive work hours and locum employment by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Suleiman, however, reaffirmed the union’s readiness for dialogue but warned that patience had limits: “Whatever is responsible for the delay, if we sit down at the table, we can sort it out.

“But since these delays are even coming despite having MoUs, we will not continue to wait indefinitely,” he said.