• Raise alarm over systemic neglect, burnout
• NACA, UI, MDCN charge new doctors to shun ‘japa’, uphold ethics
• NMA tasks govt on urgent health summit, doctors’ welfare
With six days left before its 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government expires, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has listed 19 unresolved welfare and administrative issues affecting its members across the country.
Also, NARD has, once again, raised the alarm over “systemic neglect, poor welfare and worsening working conditions” across hospitals in the country, saying its members were increasingly overworked and undervalued.
This was as the Director-General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Temitope Ilori; Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr Fatima Kyari; the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Kayode Adebowale, among others, yesterday, charged the newly-inducted medical doctors in Nigeria to demonstrate patriotism by contributing meaningfully to the country’s healthcare system, rather than seeking opportunities abroad. They were also urged to uphold ethics and excellence in medical practice.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State branch, has called on the federal and state governments to convene an urgent health sector summit to address the challenges in the country’s healthcare system and improve the welfare of medical professionals.
In a communiqué issued after its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Katsina, NARD accused the Federal Government of failing to address long-standing welfare issues, including unpaid allowances, bureaucratic stagnation and deteriorating hospital conditions that threaten the morale and safety of healthcare workers.
According to NARD Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, resident doctors and medical officers nationwide have continued to endure unregulated work hours and prolonged duty shifts, which he described as dangerous to both doctors and patients.
He noted that the practice, which sometimes spans several consecutive days, led to avoidable exhaustion and, in some tragic cases, the loss of doctors while on duty.
Among the 19 demands listed in the communiqué is the non-payment of the outstanding 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary arrears from the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) upward review, which NARD said should have been settled by August 2025. The association also cited other unpaid salary arrears despite repeated engagements with government representatives.
NARD further condemned the dismissal of five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, describing the move as unjust and demoralising amid widespread burnout and mass migration of medical professionals out of the country.
According to the communiqué, the slow progress of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between NMA and the Federal Government has left the review of the CONMESS salary structure pending for over 16 years. The unresolved relativity between CONMESS and CONHESS allowances was also described as a major source of frustration among members.
Ilori, Kyari, Adebowale and the Provost of UI College of Medicine, Prof Temitope Ogundiran, made the call during the induction of the 2025 MBBS and BDS graduating set of the UI organised by MDCN.
Some 136 MBBS/BDS inductees took their professional oaths at the ceremony which took place at the Civic Centre, Ibadan.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ilori emphasised the Federal Government’s immense investment in medical education, especially in public universities where tuition is heavily subsidised.
“Medical education in Nigeria, particularly in government institutions, whether federal or state, is almost free. You pay little or nothing in terms of fees. That should be seen as an investment by the government into your lives and careers,” she said.
Comparing the Nigerian system with that of high-income countries where medical graduates often start their careers burdened by student loans, the DG reminded the graduates of their obligation to give back to their homeland.
“In countries like the United States or United Kingdom, medical graduates often have student loans hanging over their necks. But here, you’re graduating debt-free. That is a privilege and a call to service,” she added.
Addressing the ongoing wave of medical brain drain, popularly referred to as “japa” syndrome, Ilori urged the graduates to resist the urge to emigrate hastily. Instead, she urged them to look beyond the allure of foreign opportunities and see the potential in contributing to a better Nigeria.
On his part, Adebowale expressed profound pride in the graduating cohort, highlighting the tremendous rigour and resilience that had defined their academic journey.
In her remarks, Kyari urged patriotism, and professional integrity to Nigeria’s newest medical and dental professionals.
“Today, we gather to celebrate a momentous occasion in the lives of our graduates, the culmination of years of dedication, hard work, and a steadfast commitment to purpose. But remember, this is not the destination. This is the beginning of your professional journey,” Kyari said.
During a briefing, yesterday, in Lagos as part of activities marking the 2025 Physicians’ Week, the Chairman, Dr Babajide Saheed, said the yearly celebration provides an opportunity to reflect on the state of healthcare delivery in Lagos and Nigeria and to develop sustainable solutions.
He explained that the theme for this year, ‘Healthcare as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient’, highlighted the need to strengthen every link in the healthcare delivery process.
Saheed appealed to the Lagos government to “review the 2006 Lagos State Health Sector Reform Law to meet current realities, implement structured two-term tenures for Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors to enhance leadership stability, protect salary relativity, and reverse the recent pay reduction for Lagos doctors.”
