The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) will hold an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, October 25, 2025, to review its ongoing 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.

According to a notice signed by the association’s Secretary General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, the virtual meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. via Zoom.

The notice emphasised that “presence and participation are crucial in addressing the matter at hand,” with the key agenda being a review of the government’s response to NARD’s demands.

The emergency meeting comes as the doctors’ ultimatum enters its final days. On Thursday, NARD, through its official X handle, reminded Nigerians that only four days remain before the deadline expires.

The post read, “A 50 per cent drop in resident doctor numbers, yet the government still can’t pay the remaining ones a decent salary comparable to other serious African countries. To make matters worse, doctors are still struggling to get residency training jobs.”

In an interview with The Guardian, NARD President, Dr Muhammad  Suleiman, said the association would strictly act in accordance with the directives of its NEC members.

“Nigerians should expect that I will have to call an emergency National Executive Council meeting to brief NEC members and await further directives from NEC,” he said.

He explained that the association was still operating within the 30-day window approved by its Annual General Meeting and that dialogue with government remains ongoing.

“The ultimatum hasn’t run out. Government still has time to engage us. If the NEC says continue engaging, NARD will continue engaging. If NEC says shutdown, NARD will have to shut down,” he said.

Suleiman also maintained that doctors deserve better working conditions, stating, “I would prefer Nigerians be seen and consulted by doctors who are well-rested, well-remunerated, and properly rewarded for work done.”

The Guardian earlier reported that the ultimatum followed resolutions reached at NARD’s 45th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference held in Katsina State from September 21 to 26, 2025.

During the meeting, the doctors demanded the payment of all salary arrears, promotion entitlements, and reinstatement of sacked colleagues.

The AGM, themed “Mitigating health worker migration through extra-remuneration incentives: A strategy for sustainable development,” examined the worsening impact of brain drain on Nigeria’s health sector.

The association also raised concerns about unpaid promotion arrears, unsafe call duty schedules, poor implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and the casualisation of doctors in federal hospitals.

NARD further condemned the dismissal of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and gave the government 30 days to reinstate them. It also called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to immediately pay arrears from the 25–35 per cent upward salary review and implement a one-for-one replacement policy to reduce the excessive workload caused by doctor shortages.

The doctors demanded the inclusion of house officers in the Civil Service Scheme, the full implementation of CONMESS across all government levels, and urgent reforms to ensure fair working hours and specialist allowances.

The association also urged the Oyo State Government to address the welfare challenges facing doctors at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, and called on the Federal Government to prioritise medical infrastructure and pension benefits for doctors.

As the October 30-day deadline draws to a close, all eyes are now on Saturday’s emergency meeting, which will decide whether Nigeria’s public hospitals will face another nationwide strike.