Doctors, FG clash over ₦48bn arrears as strike paralyses healthcare services
The ongoing industrial dispute between the Federal Government and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has deepened, with hospitals across Nigeria crippled as the strike enters another week.
The face-off centres on unpaid arrears and welfare demands, with NARD disputing government claims of releasing ₦11.995 billion to ease the strike. According to the association, the total amount owed to doctors stands at ₦48 billion — not ₦41 billion as the government claims.
NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, told The Guardian that the figures announced by the government were “grossly inaccurate” and that only a fraction of the funds recently released actually benefits resident doctors.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Doctors’ Association to decide strike by Friday
“Of the ₦48 billion owed, government has released ₦41 billion, but doctors have received far less than their due. We appreciate the prompt response from the Finance Ministry, but the Health Ministry must act decisively to resolve outstanding issues,” Suleiman said.
He noted that the payments made so far only address two of the association’s 19 demands — covering the balance of COVID-19 hazard allowances and accoutrement benefits — while other issues such as improved welfare, salary adjustments, and better working conditions remain unresolved.
Across the country, the indefinite strike has paralyzed medical services in federal and state hospitals, leaving thousands of patients stranded.
At the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Gboyega Ajibola, confirmed total compliance with NARD’s directive. “As of midnight on November 1, all our members withdrew services completely. Only consultants are attending to patients. Emergency and outpatient wards are barely functioning,” he said.
Ajibola described the situation as “unfortunate but unavoidable,” citing months of failed negotiations and the unbearable working conditions faced by doctors. “This strike is a fight for the future of healthcare in Nigeria,” he added.
READ ALSO: Nigerian doctors plan nationwide protest
In Lagos, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebutte-Metta, was also deserted. Its ARD Publicity Secretary, Dr. Akintade Adegboyega, described the strike as “total and indefinite,” insisting that the government’s statement misrepresented actual payments.
Hospitals in Calabar and Asaba are also severely affected. At the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, officials said most departments have been shut down, with only a few consultants handling old cases. In Asaba’s Federal Medical Centre, wards and clinics are quiet, with nurses and consultants struggling to manage limited services.
Patients and their relatives have expressed frustration over the situation. In Abuja, hospitals such as the National Hospital and FMC Jabi have been overwhelmed. A nurse at FMC Jabi said, “We’re discharging patients because there are no doctors. Those in critical condition are referred to private hospitals.”
An injured police officer at the National Hospital appealed to the government for urgent intervention: “My surgery has been delayed because there are no doctors. The pain is unbearable. The government should act fast.”
Despite mounting public pressure, NARD insists it will not call off the strike until all its demands are met. Dr. Suleiman urged Nigerians to support their cause, saying improved welfare for doctors will translate to better healthcare for citizens.
“This is not a fight against government,” he said. “It is a fight for a functional, fair, and sustainable health system that works for everyone.”
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