The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a fresh warning to the Nigerian federal government, granting it an extension of four more weeks to resolve the outstanding disputes between the two sides. The move effectively prolongs an earlier ultimatum the association had set, keeping pressure on the authorities while leaving the door open for further negotiations.
In a communique, the association said the new window represents an extension of its earlier 21-day ultimatum. NARD warned that it could no longer guarantee industrial harmony beyond the new deadline, signalling that patience among resident doctors over the unresolved issues is wearing thin.
As part of the escalation, the association directed its National Officers Committee to begin preparations for a nationwide strike should its demands fail to be met within the extended timeframe. The directive places the prospect of industrial action firmly on the table if talks with the government do not yield results.
According to the association, the demands it is putting forward are not new and have been raised in previous rounds of agitation. Among them is the call for the immediate release of the 2026 medical residency training fund, which supports doctors undergoing their residency training with the resources, materials and research backing required for the programme.
The doctors are also demanding the payment of all outstanding salary, promotion and professional allowance arrears, as well as other entitlements owed to resident doctors. These financial grievances have been a recurring source of friction between the medical workforce and the government in recent years.
In addition to the funding and remuneration issues, NARD is pressing for improved protection for healthcare workers, a demand that reflects growing concern over the conditions under which medical personnel operate across the country's hospitals.
By declaring the extension and the demands ahead of time, the association has put the federal government on notice that failure to act within the new deadline could trigger a nationwide withdrawal of services by resident doctors, who form a central part of the workforce in Nigeria's public hospitals.