By ifeoma Onyekachi

Fresh concerns are emerging in Nigeria’s health sector as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) signals a possible return to industrial action over lingering welfare issues affecting its members.

The association said the warning followed an emergency virtual meeting of its National Executive Council, where members reviewed what they described as the slow implementation of earlier agreements reached with government authorities.

In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, the association directed resident doctors across federal, state, and private hospitals to remain on standby for possible industrial action if ongoing negotiations fail to produce concrete results.

At the centre of the dispute is the Professional Allowance Table, a payment structure doctors say is essential for standardising salaries and improving welfare across health institutions in Nigeria. The association is insisting on the full reinstatement of the allowance structure, as well as the immediate payment of outstanding promotion arrears and salary adjustments owed to resident doctors nationwide.

NARD is also demanding the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, warning that delays in releasing the fund could affect specialist training programmes and weaken capacity development in the country’s health sector.

However, government officials maintain that progress has been made in addressing doctors’ welfare concerns. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said recent reforms have increased professional allowances for health workers by nearly ₦90 billion annually, covering call duty, shift duty, rural posting, and non-clinical duty allowances. Officials added that some of the issues raised are related to structural and policy adjustments rather than failure to implement agreements.

The latest strike threat has raised concerns about possible disruptions in public hospitals, where resident doctors make up a significant portion of frontline medical staff providing emergency and specialist services.

Nigeria has experienced repeated strikes by resident doctors in recent years, with the association blaming underfunding of the health sector, delayed payments, and poor working conditions for the recurring industrial disputes. Although a planned strike earlier this year was suspended after fresh government assurances, tensions have remained over the pace of implementation.

The association said it remains open to dialogue but stressed that urgent action is needed to address doctors’ welfare issues and ensure stability in Nigeria’s healthcare system.