PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to take all legal and necessary measures to secure the immediate return of striking resident doctors to their duty posts, following a nationwide shutdown of services in major hospitals.
News Point Nigeria reports that the directive followed the indefinite strike declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Saturday, which has paralysed routine operations and emergency care across federal and state medical institutions.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, conveyed the President’s orders during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.
“Mr President has expressly directed that we do everything possible and legitimate to ensure that the resident doctors are brought back to their duty posts as soon as possible,” he said.
Salako apologised to Nigerians facing medical hardships due to the strike, assuring that government has been engaging NARD to resolve its 19-point demands.
He traced the current impasse partly to a controversial circular issued in July by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, which triggered discord over pay structure among health workers. The circular has since been withdrawn.
A unified Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process was initiated in August involving NARD, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
Salako disclosed that most of the issues raised by NARD are already being addressed, including: N21.3 billion released to settle arrears and allowances with 60% of doctors paid so far, an additional N11.9 billion currently being processed, N20 billion previously disbursed through the Medical Residency Training Fund, 14,444 health workers recruited in 2024 (including 3,064 resident doctors), 23,059 more workers being employed in 2025 and presidential approval granted to increase the retirement age of clinical workers to 65 years.
He added that the government enlisted an external industrial relations expert to mediate pay relativity disputes and tensions over non-doctor consultant roles.
On NARD’s demand for medical and dental house officers to be fully placed on the civil service scheme, Salako said the request was not feasible under current regulations.
“They are not regular staff; they are interns on temporary 12-month postings and cannot be placed on pensionable employment.”
He also clarified that the creation of consultant cadres for non-medical professionals predated the Tinubu administration and would be resolved through dialogue, not confrontation.
Regarding the dismissal of five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, the minister revealed that a three-man review committee has already recommended reinstating three of them.
Despite the assurances, NARD leadership declared the strike will continue until there is verifiable action.
In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, the association said its demands were crucial to prevent the collapse of the health sector.
“NARD’s 19 legitimate demands represent the minimum requirements for a sustainable healthcare system and for restoring dignity to medical practice in Nigeria,” it said, citing unpaid arrears, unsafe work conditions, and mass emigration of doctors.
The Association of Resident Doctors under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) said their own action would remain in place due to unresolved salary crises.
President of ARD-FCTA, Dr. George Ebong, said: “Several doctors employed since 2023 are still unpaid, and new recruits are being placed on reduced salary scales. Even if NARD suspends its strike today, we will continue ours until our demands are met.”
He urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to act swiftly, alleging bureaucratic sabotage of his earlier approvals.
“We want to work, but we can’t give what we don’t have,” he stressed.