The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued an ultimatum of two weeks to the Federal Government, demanding a 200% increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS). The demand comes after several engagements with the government on the need to increase the CONMESS, which has not been reviewed in over 10 years.

The association stated that the Federal Government has neither called NARD to the negotiation table nor taken any tangible step in addressing the issue. The association has also demanded the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) in line with the agreements reached at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Health.

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Furthermore, NARD demanded the commencement of payment of all salary arrears owed to its members, including 2014, 2015 and 2016 salary arrears as well as areas of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage. The group also urged the immediate implementation of CONMESS, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA), and review of hazard allowance by all state governments, as well as private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done.

NARD frowned at the negative developments in the states, where many governors are yet to implement the appropriate CONMESS structure, domesticate the MRTA, or improve on the hazard allowance paid to doctors and other health workers while owing a backlog of salary arrears to members. The association called for the immediate implementation of CONMESS, domestication of the MRTA, and review of hazard allowance by all state governments and private tertiary health institutions.

NARD also condemned the proposed compulsory five-year service licensing of doctors being proposed by the House of Representatives, stating that the bill was seeking to enslave young Nigerian doctors by restricting their fundamental human rights of freedom of choice and movement.

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It further demanded an immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and complete abolishment of bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of doctors who leave the system. NEC called for immediate infrastructural development in various hospitals without further delay and insisted on at least 15% budgetary allocation to health subsequently.