The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has renewed its demand for the payment of outstanding allowances and salary arrears, calling attention to long-standing concerns about compensation, employment conditions, and the treatment of its members in public health institutions.
The association raised these concerns during its May Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The event, themed “The Medical Profession: Policies, Politics, and Future Prospects,” ended on Saturday with a communiqué highlighting grievances affecting resident doctors nationwide.
The communiqué was jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Osundara Tope, Secretary-General Odunbaku Kazeem Oluwasola, and Public and Social Secretary Amobi Omoha.
“The OGM observed with disappointment the continued exclusion of resident doctors from the payment of specialist allowances, despite their active role in delivering specialist care across various health institutions,” the communiqué stated.
The association also criticised the casual employment of doctors and low pay in some tertiary hospitals. It noted that resident doctors were increasingly being hired on temporary terms and not compensated appropriately for their contributions.
“The OGM strongly condemns the persistent casualisation and consequent poor remuneration of doctors by the chief executives of tertiary hospitals,” the communiqué read.
Addressing journalists at the event, Dr. Tope said several financial obligations owed to members remain unsettled, including arrears from the reviewed Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance.
“The OGM notes with concern the persistent short-changing of members for 16 years due to the absence of consequential adjustments to the CONMESS structure, in breach of the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement,” he said.
“This contradicts the National Policy on Health Workforce, which advocates improved incentives to retain healthcare workers,” he added.
Dr. Tope also expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s silence on multiple letters sent over a six-month period.
“The OGM is dismayed at the lack of response to multiple correspondences sent over the past six months regarding the consequential adjustments,” he said. “The OGM condemns the Federal Government’s failure to pay the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance arrears.”
Beyond federal issues, the association also raised state-level concerns. Members noted unresolved welfare problems at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, including non-payment of March 2024 salaries and accumulated arrears owed to residents and medical officers dating back 7 to 14 months.
The association demanded the immediate payment of the 25% and 35% revised CONMESS arrears, outstanding salary backlogs, and full implementation of minimum wage adjustments from 2019 and 2024. These include adjustments to both salaries and allowances, along with all associated arrears.
NARD has repeatedly called for reforms aimed at improving the welfare of healthcare professionals in public institutions, warning that unresolved issues may contribute to workforce migration and declining morale within the health sector.
