FG has disbursed N43.3 billion to doctors, ministry claims
Resident doctors at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and Osun University Teaching Hospital (UTH) on Saturday joined the nationwide strike led by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The association had previously announced that it would embark on a nationwide strike on November 1, citing the federal government’s failure to meet its long-standing demands.
The association demands a 200 percent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). Added to this is the demand for the full implementation of the new subsidies proposed from July 2022 and the immediate hiring of clinical staff.
NARD had also been calling for the removal of bureaucratic obstacles delaying the replacement of existing doctors, among other issues.
However, the UCH association chapter president, Dr Gboyega Ajibola, on Saturday said all UCH resident doctors, medical officers and house officers were in full compliance.
“As of 12 o’clock tonight, we are in full compliance with that. If you walk into UCH now, you will notice that our members are not working according to NARD instructions.
“The strike is total and comprehensive; no emergency corridor will be left open in this strike. UCH, as a founding member of NARD, has leadership strength in NARD.
“All of our officers unanimously decided to go on strike today,” he said.
Regarding the anticipated effects of the strike, the president emphasized that patients will not be able to receive the specialized care they should.
According to him, UCH offers patients intensive specialized care and multidisciplinary treatment, something that can be very difficult to achieve in the private sector.
“In addition, when patients go to the private sector, the care they receive is more expensive than that in government hospitals.
“Hospital revenue is going to decline – although consultants are working, ARD makes up about 80 per cent of the doctor workforce.
“Therefore, the rate of admission, surgery and the number of patients you will see in the clinics will be reduced,” he said.
Also, resident doctors at UTH stopped treating patients at the Osogbo State Teaching Hospital on Saturday.
Dr Phillip Ajibade, president of the association in the state, said the strike complied with the directive of the national president of NARD.
“ARD UTH Osogbo is an affiliate of NARD and we have delivered. What NARD demands of the Federal Government and fights for equally affects us as doctors,” he said.
In response to the strike, the Federal Government says it has disbursed N43.3 billion to doctors across the country as part of its ongoing efforts to clear arrears, strengthen the health workforce and maintain industrial harmony in the health sector, the Federal Ministry of Health said.
In a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director and Head of Information and Public Relations at the ministry, the government reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing the well-being of doctors as the basis of its reform agenda.
“The well-being, motivation and stability of our health workforce remains the foundation on which all health policies, strategies and actions are built,” the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Abuja, as quoted in the statement.
According to Balogun, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, has commenced the payment of seven-month arrears of the 25% and 35% upward review of CONMESS and CONHESS in August 2025, worth N10 billion.
“Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the accelerated payment of these arrears, another N21.3 billion was transferred to the IPPIS account and payment commenced,” Balogun stated.
He added that another N11.995 million is being processed for release within 72 hours to cover other arrears including allowances for stores.
“All these payments are enjoyed by NARD members in accordance with the healthcare salary structure,” the statement said.
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