The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a trade dispute with the Federal Government, extending by four weeks its ultimatum for the implementation of outstanding welfare demands and warning that it may embark on a nationwide strike if the issues remain unresolved.

The decision was reached during the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting, held virtually on Saturday to assess developments following the expiration of its earlier 21-day ultimatum.

In a communiqué issued on Sunday and jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association said it could no longer guarantee industrial peace beyond the new deadline.

“The association cannot guarantee industrial harmony beyond the four-week window if all its demands are not fully addressed,” the communiqué stated.

NARD also directed its National Officers’ Committee to begin preparations for possible industrial action should the Federal Government fail to make satisfactory progress within the stipulated period.

The association accused the government and several health institutions of failing to honour commitments relating to doctors’ welfare, including the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

Among the unresolved issues, NARD said the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) has yet to be released despite repeated assurances. It also expressed concern over delays in the payment of House Officers’ salaries and other outstanding entitlements in several health institutions.

The association further decried the non-payment of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary adjustment arrears, as well as the outstanding 19 months’ Professional Allowance arrears.

“NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments,” the association said.

The resident doctors also condemned what they described as the continued victimisation of their members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, warning that they would resist any form of intimidation or harassment.

They also criticised efforts by the management of OAUTHC to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary health institutions despite an existing government directive abolishing the practice.

NARD further faulted the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) over its continued refusal to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty, describing the development as an anti-welfare practice.

The association warned that any hospital management that fails to provide the entitlement would be held responsible for any industrial unrest arising from the issue.

Despite its grievances, NARD acknowledged progress in some areas, including ongoing efforts to tackle assaults on healthcare workers and the near completion of reports by ministerial committees investigating workplace violence, excessive workload, prolonged call hours, casualisation of doctors and abusive locum appointments.

The association also commended some state governments and private tertiary health institutions for implementing welfare measures such as the payment of Professional Allowance arrears, Specialist Allowance, salary adjustments under the revised CONMESS structure and the disbursement of the Medical Residency Training Fund.

However, NARD maintained that the implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government has remained slow and unsatisfactory.

Its key demands include the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, payment of all outstanding salary, promotion and Professional Allowance arrears, full implementation of the revised CONMESS salary structure, stronger protection for healthcare workers against assaults, accelerated implementation of the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the immediate submission, approval and implementation of recommendations by ministerial committees investigating excessive workload and poor working conditions for doctors.

The association said it will review the Federal Government’s level of compliance at its July 2026 National Executive Council meeting scheduled to hold in Gombe State.