The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has firmly rejected the Federal Government’s recent statement claiming that ₦43 billion has been released for payment of salary arrears and other allowances owed to its members. In a bold announcement, the association stated that the doctors’ strike will remain indefinite until all outstanding payments are verified and cleared. The doctors insisted that the government’s claims were misleading and failed to address the core issues driving the ongoing resident doctors’ strike.
Resident Doctors Reject FG’s ₦43bn Claim
According to NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, the association has yet to receive any official evidence of disbursement or payment to affected doctors. He emphasized that the resident doctors strike would continue until the government provides transparent proof of payment and addresses long-standing welfare concerns. The union accused the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Accountant-General of playing politics with workers’ rights while healthcare services across the nation remain crippled by the resident doctors strike.
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Dr. Abdullahi explained that many doctors are still owed months of salaries, hazard allowances, and other benefits despite repeated promises by government officials. He argued that the government’s recent press release was an attempt to discredit the resident doctors strike movement rather than resolve the underlying crisis. He further noted that morale among doctors has reached an all-time low, with many considering relocation abroad due to poor remuneration and working conditions.
The resident doctors strike has already paralyzed services in major federal hospitals across the country, leaving patients stranded and critical operations postponed. Several healthcare facilities have scaled down services, while emergency wards struggle to cope with the shortage of medical staff. Nigerians have expressed frustration over the prolonged resident doctors strike, urging both parties to find a quick resolution to prevent further suffering of ordinary citizens.
In its defense, the Federal Government insists that it has fulfilled its financial obligations and that the ₦43 billion payment covers accumulated arrears for medical professionals nationwide. However, NARD maintains that no such funds have been received at hospital levels. The union’s leadership accused the government of insincerity, stating that the resident doctors strike will persist until verifiable payment evidence is provided.
Health experts have warned that the prolonged resident doctors strike could worsen Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system. They stressed that without urgent intervention, the country risks increased mortality rates, overcrowded private hospitals, and heightened pressure on remaining healthcare workers. The strike has also drawn concern from international health organizations monitoring Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
Meanwhile, civil society groups have urged both sides to return to the negotiation table. They believe that the government’s transparency in handling the ₦43 billion claim could be the first step toward ending the resident doctors strike. Many Nigerians argue that health workers deserve fair compensation, given the economic challenges and rising cost of living.
As the stalemate continues, the Federal Government faces mounting pressure to act decisively. The leadership of NARD has vowed that the resident doctors strike will not be suspended until every affected member confirms full payment of arrears and allowances. For now, the strike remains a symbol of resistance against poor governance and neglect of the healthcare sector, with the resident doctors strike expected to continue indefinitely unless the government meets their demands in full.
As days turn into weeks, the resident doctors strike continues to expose deep cracks within Nigeria’s public health system. Families of patients have been left in distress, while private hospitals capitalize on the crisis by increasing consultation fees. The lack of a concrete resolution has sparked nationwide protests among medical students and young doctors demanding accountability and better welfare. Observers warn that if the resident doctors strike drags on much longer, it could trigger a mass exodus of skilled medical professionals, leaving the nation’s hospitals understaffed and its citizens without adequate care.
