President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to ensure that resident doctors under the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors end their strike and return to work without delay.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja after NARD declared an indefinite strike on Saturday.
Salako apologised to Nigerians who had been unable to access medical care since the strike began and assured that the president had directed a quick resolution of the dispute.
“Mr President has expressly directed that we do everything possible and legitimate to ensure that the resident doctors are brought back to their duty posts as soon as possible,” he said.
The minister explained that NARD had submitted 19 demands, which the ministry was addressing one after another. He said the conflict began after the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission issued a circular in July that divided opinions among health workers.
He added that a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was introduced in August to unite all health unions, including the Nigerian Medical Association, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and the Joint Health Sector Unions.
Salako said two controversial issues slowed the process: the dispute over parity and relativity in pay, and the appointment of non-doctor health workers as consultants.
“The government is trying to put together recommendations to the CBA on these two issues. That is why the CBA was temporarily halted. It was in the course of that suspension that NARD issued its ultimatum,” he said.
He also said the government had been meeting with the doctors and had released funds to settle arrears and allowances.
“The sum of N21.3bn has been released for the settlement of these arrears. At least 60 per cent of NARD members have received payment. We are following up to ensure the remaining 40 per cent get theirs,” Salako said.
He added that over 14,000 health workers were recruited in 2024 and over 23,000 are being hired this year, while Tinubu has approved an increase in the retirement age for clinical staff to 65 years.
Salako said the government remained committed to resolving all issues in the health sector sustainably, ensuring that any agreement reached would be long-lasting.
