...Promises one-week timeline for salary, allowance issues as talks yield breakthrough

The Federal Government on Tuesday averted a planned nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) after reaching a series of agreements on outstanding welfare and salary issues following hours of negotiations at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, brought together the Ministers of Labour, Health and Finance, the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Accountant-General of the Federation, representatives of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Cash Management officials and the NARD leadership led by its President, Dr. Mohamed Suleiman.

The intervention came days after NARD issued a seven-day ultimatum threatening to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from August 10 over unresolved welfare concerns, including unpaid salary arrears, outstanding allowances, security threats to healthcare workers and delays in implementing agreements reached with the government.

Among its demands were the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears, an increase in the approved adjustment from 25 to 35 per cent, and payment of 19 months’ accumulated professional allowance arrears.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, both parties agreed on timelines for resolving the outstanding issues, with the government committing to implement several of the agreements within one week.

The agreements include the payment of salary and promotion arrears, settlement of call-duty allowance issues affecting workers at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and the finalisation of professional allowance templates.

The parties also agreed on measures to improve the timely payment of salaries to house officers and accelerate work on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Speaking after the meeting, NARD President, Dr. Mohamed Suleiman, commended the intervention of the Chief of Staff, describing the discussions as productive and assuring that resident doctors remain committed to dialogue.

“I want to put it on record that this is not the first time the Chief of Staff has intervened in matters relating to resident doctors in this country. About six or seven years ago, when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives, he intervened, and each time he has gotten involved, our matters have been resolved. Today, I can tell you that our issues have been resolved,” he said.

According to him, timelines have been agreed with relevant government agencies for the implementation of key demands.

“On salary arrears and promotion arrears, we are talking about a one-week timeline. On the call-duty allowance issue in LUTH, we have also agreed on a one-week timeline for implementation.

“We have also agreed on the number of house officers to be engaged. In addition, house officers should no longer have to wait for an entire month before receiving their salaries.
A standing directive has been issued that their salaries must be paid before the 10th of every month,” Suleiman said.

He disclosed that the government had also made fresh concessions on the professional allowance template and was working on the outstanding balance after further clarification by the Budget Office.

On the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Suleiman said the Chief of Staff directed the Ministers of Labour and Health to fast-track negotiations to enable the necessary circulars and financial computations to be concluded for inclusion in the 2027 budget.

The NARD President also welcomed commitments by the government to improve the safety of health workers across the country.

He revealed that the Chief of Staff had initiated moves for legislation that would classify assaults on healthcare workers as aggravated offences.

According to him, 31 doctors and more than 20 other health workers have been assaulted across the country within the last 10 months.

He said the Ministry of Health would issue directives to hospitals to strengthen security, create safer working environments and embark on public awareness campaigns aimed at curbing violence against healthcare workers.

The agreements reached at Tuesday’s meeting are expected to halt the planned industrial action, provided the government meets the implementation timelines agreed with the association.