The Federal Government has provided detailed clarification on the ongoing standoff with the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, attributing the dispute to structural and policy constraints rather than neglect, while underscoring its commitment to industrial harmony through a ₦90 billion annual increase in health workers’ allowances.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this during an interview on the AIT Kaakaki programme on Tuesday, where he outlined the measures taken by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to address the concerns of resident doctors and prevent recurring strikes in the health sector.
Dr Salako reaffirmed that the Ministry places a high premium on industrial peace and uninterrupted healthcare delivery. He noted that while government recognises the need to improve remuneration for health workers, such decisions must be balanced against competing national priorities including education, security, and infrastructure, within the limits of available public revenue.
He explained that the Tinubu administration demonstrated its commitment in November 2025 by approving an upward review of professional allowances for health workers, a decision that added nearly ₦90 billion to annual government expenditure. The revised allowances cover call duty, shift duty, non clinical duty, and rural posting, and were agreed through joint negotiations involving all categories of health professionals.
According to the Minister, past negotiations were often conducted in isolation, with different professional groups engaging the government separately. This approach, he said, resulted in conflicting agreements on pay relativity and parity, frequently triggering industrial actions. To address this, the Ministry adopted a collective bargaining framework that brings together doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, and other health workers in a unified negotiation process.
On the specific demands of NARD, Dr Salako disclosed that the association’s requests had reduced from nineteen to nine, signalling progress in ongoing discussions. He clarified that some of the outstanding demands are constrained by existing civil service rules and approved schemes of service.
He addressed the demand for specialist allowance for resident doctors, explaining that residents are specialists in training, while current regulations reserve specialist allowances for consultants. He added that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission had advised against extending the allowance to resident doctors, warning that such a move could prompt similar claims from other health professionals undergoing specialist training.
The Minister also dismissed claims of government inaction regarding certification issues, explaining that the National Postgraduate Medical College does not issue certificates after Part One examinations, a policy beyond the Ministry’s authority to alter.
On the controversy surrounding the disengagement of five resident doctors in Lokoja, Dr Salako stated that the matter arose from established civil service disciplinary procedures. He revealed that a Ministerial review committee has recommended the reinstatement of two doctors, reprimand for two others, and a fresh disciplinary hearing for one, all in line with due process.
While acknowledging public frustration over frequent industrial actions in the health sector, the Minister noted that doctors’ strikes are not unique to Nigeria, citing similar disputes in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour and other key stakeholders, remains committed to sustained dialogue aimed at stabilising the health sector, ensuring industrial harmony, and preventing future disruptions to healthcare delivery.
Alaba Balogun
Director, Information and Public Relations
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