The Federal Government has explained why it has been unable to meet some of the demands put forward by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which have sparked renewed threats of industrial action.

The clarification was given on Tuesday by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, in a statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Alaba Balogun.

According to Salako, the government remains committed to improving the welfare of healthcare workers, citing recent reforms such as the upward review of professional allowances estimated at about ₦90 billion annually. He said the revised allowances—covering call duty, shift duty, non-clinical duty, and rural posting—were approved in November 2025 after collective negotiations with all health professional groups.

Shift to Collective Bargaining

The minister explained that in the past, negotiations were conducted separately with different professional groups, often resulting in conflicting agreements on pay parity and relativity. These inconsistencies, he said, frequently triggered industrial actions.

To address this, the current administration has adopted a collective bargaining framework, which Salako said promotes inclusiveness and reduces disputes across the health sector.

Balancing National Priorities

While reiterating the government’s commitment to better remuneration for health workers, Salako noted that salary and allowance reviews must be balanced against other national priorities such as education, security, and infrastructure development.

He revealed that NARD’s list of demands has been reduced from 19 to nine items, describing the development as a positive step in the ongoing dialogue. However, he stressed that some demands remain constrained by existing public service rules and approved schemes of service.

Specialist Allowance and Certification Issues

Addressing NARD’s demand for a specialist allowance for resident doctors, Salako explained that residents are specialists-in-training, and that the allowance is currently reserved for consultants under existing regulations. He added that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has warned that extending the allowance could trigger similar demands from other workers undergoing specialist training.

On concerns over delays in certification, the minister clarified that the National Postgraduate Medical College does not issue certificates after Part I examinations, noting that the Ministry of Health has no authority to override the institution’s policies.

Lokoja Disengagement Case

Regarding the disengagement of five resident doctors in Lokoja, Salako said the action followed laid-down civil service disciplinary procedures. He disclosed that a ministerial review panel has recommended the reinstatement of two doctors, reprimands for two others, and a fresh hearing for one.

Commitment to Dialogue

The minister assured Nigerians that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and other stakeholders, remains committed to continuous dialogue aimed at stabilising the health sector and preventing disruptions to healthcare services.

NARD represents resident doctors undergoing postgraduate training in teaching hospitals across the country and has a history of industrial action over issues such as working conditions, timely payment of allowances, and pay parity with other health professionals.