The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has described as misleading and inaccurate claims by the Federal Ministry of Labour that substantial progress has been made in addressing the union’s demands.
In a statement on Thursday, NARD expressed disappointment at a press release circulated by the labour ministry officials on November 19, which suggested that a “high percentage” of the doctors’ grievances had been resolved.
According to NARD, the ministry’s account did not reflect the reality of its negotiations with the government or the conditions that led to the ongoing nationwide strike.
It said that a detailed review conducted during its Extraordinary National Executive Council, NEC, meeting on November 17 showed that “not a single one” of its 19 core demands had been fully met despite the ministry’s contrary claims.
The Association argued that what government officials describe as progress amounted largely to promises, pending approvals and newly constituted committees, patterns that the association said have characterised previous unfulfilled commitments.
The doctors challenged the ministry’s assertion that payment of the 25%/35% CONMESS review and 2024 accoutrement allowances had commenced up to December 2024.
They noted that none of its members across the country had received such payments, adding that statements about reconciling omissions amounted to acknowledgements of unresolved problems.
“An announcement of intent is not a substitute for a credited salary,” the group said.
NARD also criticised the ministry’s statement that issues such as specialist allowances and arrears owed to doctors in federal institutions, including Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, FMC Owo, and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, were being “compiled” for submission to the budget office.
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