Resident Doctors Fault Government Claim Of Progress

The nationwide strike by resident doctors entered another tense phase on Thursday after the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors said the federal government misled the country about the state of negotiations.

The group reacted after the labour ministry announced that payments and salary adjustments had started.

The association explained that the government’s update did not reflect the real situation. It said the ministry’s report of progress on salary reviews and allowances created the wrong impression that the dispute was close to being resolved.

The doctors said they reviewed all issues at an emergency national executive council meeting on November 17 and discovered that none of their core demands had been fully met. They added that the government’s claims were based on promises, incomplete steps and committees that had not delivered any real outcome.

The group also said its members had not received the revised CONMESS payments or the 2024 accoutrement allowances, despite the ministry’s announcement that the process had begun. It described the government’s ongoing compilation of arrears and specialist allowance lists as proof that action had not taken place despite years of discussions.

The doctors faulted the government’s decision to set up new committees to address unpaid arrears, disengaged doctors in Lokoja and manpower shortages. They said these committees had become a regular tactic that delayed action, insisting that they want the immediate return of their colleagues in Lokoja and the start of a one-for-one replacement system to ease workload.

The association said it refused to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding because it lacked clear timelines and enforceable commitments. It stated that the nationwide strike that began on November 15 will continue until the government meets its demands, including reinstating the affected doctors, clearing outstanding allowances and enforcing proper staffing policies.