The Nigerian government had earlier stated that seven out of the 19 demands presented by the association had been statutorily addressed, including the payment of the CONMESS adjustment.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has disputed the Nigerian government’s claim that outstanding arrears of the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) adjustment have been fully paid, revealing that thousands of doctors are still owed.
Speaking on Channels Television on Friday, NARD National President, Dr Mohammad Suleman, said more than 2000 resident doctors are yet to receive the seven months’ arrears, despite assurances from the President Bola Tinubu-led government.
“On the seven months’ arrears of 25–35 per cent, we still have over 2,000, almost 3,000 of our members who are yet to be paid those arrears,” Suleman said.
The Nigerian government had earlier stated that seven out of the 19 demands presented by the association had been statutorily addressed, including the payment of the CONMESS adjustment.
However, Suleman described the government’s approach as inconsistent, noting that the issue had repeatedly been pushed into service-wide vote provisions rather than being properly captured in the national budget.
“In 2023, it was said to be put inside the service-wide vote if it wasn’t paid. In 2024, it was put in the service-wide vote; in 2025, it was again put there,” he explained.
According to him, resident doctors should not have to rely on repeated special interventions by the President before their lawful entitlements are honoured.
“The President had to make special provision when doctors agitated for that money to be paid. Are we saying these arrears have to go through that route of waiting for service-wide vote after service-wide vote and waiting for the President of the country to specifically intervene before they are captured in the budget?” he asked.
Suleman confirmed that negotiations were ongoing with the Federal Government and the Ministry of Health, expressing cautious optimism that concrete progress could be achieved before the weekend.
“Right now, we are in discussions with the Federal Government team. I would hope that from tonight to tomorrow, to Sunday, a lot of things are going to be done in the proper way,” he said.
He added that any decision on the planned industrial action would be guided by evidence of government goodwill rather than legal threats.
“So that the National Executive Council will now look at it, not in the context of court injunctions and ‘no work, no pay,’ but in the context of what has been done and the evidence that good faith is on the table,” Suleman stated.
Despite a court injunction restraining the association from proceeding with its planned strike, the NARD president insisted that the resolve of its members remained firm.
“I am making it very clear that the resolve of our members is not shaken by all these. All these were factored into the decision to embark on this strike,” he said.
When asked whether the nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Monday would still hold, Suleman said the final call rested with the association’s leadership.
“Unless the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors says otherwise,” he said.
He also questioned whether the court order adequately addressed the realities facing doctors and patients across the country.
“Are we ignoring the sufferings that doctors are going through in this country? Are we ignoring the suffering that patients go through because doctors are exhausted, frustrated and have difficulties executing their jobs?” he asked.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja had on Friday ordered NARD and its members to suspend the strike slated for January 12. The injunction, granted by Justice Emmanuel Subilim, followed an application filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation after submissions by the Ministry of Justice.
NARD, however, has maintained that it plans to proceed with a total, indefinite strike, citing the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement agreements contained in a Memorandum of Understanding signed after the last strike was suspended on November 29. The association also dismissed allegations that its actions were politically motivated.