President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Well being and Social Welfare to make sure that members of the Nigerian Affiliation of Resident Docs who’re on strike resume work instantly.
The directive was disclosed by the Minister of State for Well being and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, throughout a press briefing on Monday in Abuja, following the entire and indefinite strike declared by NARD on Saturday.
Talking on the briefing, Salako mentioned, “I want to replace Nigerians on the challenges across the ongoing strike motion by the Nigerian Affiliation of Resident Docs. First, on behalf of myself and the Coordinating Minister of Well being and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, and all the highest administration employees of the ministry, we want to categorical our regrets and unconditional apology to Nigerians, particularly those that wanted to entry well being care within the final 48 hours, who couldn’t do it on account of the strike motion by NARD.
“I need to use this chance to guarantee Nigerians that Mr President has expressly directed that we do every thing doable and legit to make sure that the resident medical doctors are introduced again to their obligation posts as quickly as doable.”
The minister defined that the federal government had been participating the management of NARD to resolve the problems behind their industrial motion.
Salako revealed that the hanging medical doctors had introduced 19 separate calls for, which the ministry was addressing one after one other.
He supplied background on the dispute, recalling {that a} round issued by the Nationwide Salaries, Incomes and Wages Fee in July had precipitated division amongst well being sector employees.
In keeping with him, some {groups} within the well being sector protested in opposition to the contents of the round, whereas others welcomed it.
The ministry, he mentioned, sought a assessment as a result of it didn’t accommodate the pursuits of all well being professionals.
“We approached the Nationwide Salaries and Wages Fee and the Presidential Committee on Wage Enhance, and the round was due to this fact withdrawn,” Salako said.
He famous {that a} Collective Bargaining Treaty course of was initiated in August to unify discussions throughout all well being sector unions, together with the Nigerian Medical Affiliation (NMA), Nationwide Affiliation of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and the Joint Well being Sector Unions.
“Between August and now, we’ve got had 12 conferences of the CBA. However in the midst of that CBA assembly, two points got here out that had been very controversial,” he mentioned.
In keeping with the minister, one of many disputes was between {groups} advocating relativity in remuneration and others insisting on parity, each of which he described as mutually unique.
“You can’t discuss parity in a single breath as authorities, and in addition discuss relativity in one other breath as authorities. They’re mutually unique. And we felt that it was vital to return again house to resolve that problem,” he said.
The second contentious problem, he mentioned, was the appointment of some non-doctor well being employees as consultants in 2020, which precipitated discontent amongst medical doctors.
“For us, we felt that it was a problem that we needed to come and focus on in-house to resolve, and that’s what led to a short lived suspension of the CBA.
“The ministry engaged an exterior advisor, a professor of business relations, to function a negotiator on these two essential points and different issues which will come up throughout discussions with the well being unions.
“That negotiator has met the three well being unions, has submitted an interim report. We now have met once more with all of the unions mixed within the presence of the negotiator to additional focus on, and the federal government is making an attempt to place collectively a suggestion to the CBA on these two points. That’s the reason the CBA was quickly halted. It was in the midst of that suspension that NARD issued its ultimatum,” he emphasised.
Salako famous that regardless of the CBA rule in opposition to industrial motion whereas negotiations are ongoing, a number of conferences had been held to deal with the medical doctors’ issues.
“Ideally, one of many key necessities of the CBA is that whereas it’s ongoing, there ought to be no declaration of business disputes. However regardless of that, we met with NARD. I met with them twice final week.
“The Minister of Finance, the Minister of Labour and Productiveness, and the Minister of State for Finance have additionally met with them to attempt to tackle all of the 19-point points they raised. Right this moment, I can inform you that the majority of these points are being addressed,” he mentioned.
Responding to NARD’s grievance about unregulated work hours and manpower shortages, the minister mentioned the federal government had authorised huge recruitment within the well being sector.
“In 2024 alone, the Federal Ministry of Well being, utilizing a particular waiver mechanism that no different sector enjoys, was capable of have interaction 14,444 well being employees throughout 64 federal tertiary well being establishments. 78.1 per cent are medical employees. Out of these medical employees, 908 are consultants and three,064 are resident medical doctors.
“In 2025, up to now, utilizing the identical waiver mechanism, we’ve got given approval, and recruitment is already ongoing throughout 78 federal tertiary well being establishments for the employment of 23,059 well being employees. 71.1 per cent of them are medical employees. 868 are consultants and a pair of,629 are residents, additionally the second highest,” he mentioned.
Salako added that Tinubu had authorised the rise of the retirement age for medical well being employees to 65 years, noting that the coverage was present process closing institution procedures earlier than implementation.
On {financial} calls for, the minister mentioned the federal government had launched substantial funds to offset excellent arrears and allowances.
“The sum of N21.3bn has been launched for the settlement of those arrears. Not less than 60 per cent of NARD members have acquired an alert. It’s nonetheless remaining at about 40 per cent, and we’re going to observe up with the Accountant-Common and the Pay Workplace to make sure that the opposite 40 per cent are correctly paid,” he mentioned.
He added that N11.995bn had been processed for extra arrears, whereas N10bn had beforehand been paid to all well being employees in August, and one other N10bn had been paid solely to resident medical doctors via the Medical Residency Coaching Fund.
Addressing issues about poor infrastructure in well being amenities, Dr. Salako urged journalists to go to hospitals nationwide to confirm the federal government’s ongoing enhancements since Might 2023.
He burdened that President Tinubu remained dedicated to bridging gaps within the well being sector and guaranteeing sustainability in all agreements.
“There is no such thing as a gradual progress. What is occurring is that we’re taking our time to make sure that every thing we have to tackle board is taken on board, in order that no matter answer we agree on can be a sustainable one.
“The well being sector is teamwork. No skilled within the well being sector can work independently of others. What occurs to cadre A impacts cadre B. We can’t deal with their points independently of each other,” he added.