The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected the new circular issued by the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission on the review of allowances for Medical and Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service, saying it is inconsistent with the national policy on health workforce migration.
According to the association, the circular indicates the level of insouciance that has repeatedly been shown towards Nigerian doctors who sacrifice their time and effort in the midst of poor working conditions, shortage of manpower, and limited infrastructure.
Consequently, NARD, therefore, demands a revised CONMESS structure and allowances as submitted to the Federal Ministry of Health, which is in keeping with the collective bargaining agreements earlier made with the Federal Government, including payment of specialist allowance to all doctors.
In a statement issued by the NARD President, Tope Osundara, and the Secretary-General, Dr Odunbaku Kazeem Oluwasola, the association said it is in solidarity with the demands of the NMA and wishes to state that a fresh negotiation team that will align with the principles of the Collective Bargaining Agreement should be set up.
NARD observed that for over a decade, the Nigerian Government has not fulfilled the tenets of the 2009 collective bargaining agreement reached with Nigerian doctors.
It stated that the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission unilaterally decided to conjure a chaotic allowance structure without transparency and a proper framework that creates mutual respect and understanding.
The association noted that the allowance structure as released by the NSIWC lacks attractive and adequate compensation that reflects the hard economic reality we presently face as Nigerian doctors, adding that it also fails to address the critical concern that is negatively impacting the nation’s healthcare system.
It read, “NARD rejects in its entirety the obnoxious circular by the Federal Government through the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on June 27, 2025, with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, on the review of allowances for Medical and Dental Officers.
“The content of the circular is preposterous, fails to address the needs of Nigerian doctors, and is at complete variance with the national policy on health workforce migration. It completely fails to come to grips with the push and pull factors of health workforce migration and the consequences of health workforce migration on the Nigerian health system.”
The association said that Nigeria is suffering from severe shortages of health workers stemming from poor welfare packages, poor working conditions, excessive workload, burnout, mental fatigue, and lack of compensation for overtime.
It lamented that in all of these woes on the health workers, what NSIWC could do on behalf of the Federal Government is a disrespectful offer to Nigerian doctors.
