The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has firmly rejected a new circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which reviews the allowances of medical and dental officers in the federal public service.
The circular, dated June 27, 2025, with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, has sparked strong criticism from major medical bodies, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, and NARD.
In a statement released on Saturday and signed by its President, Dr. Tope Osundara, and Secretary-General, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, NARD described the circular as chaotic, disrespectful, and out of touch with the realities faced by Nigerian doctors.
Titled “Rejection of the National Salary Income and Wages Commission Circular on Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service,” the statement said the content is “preposterous” and ignores the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration.
“It reflects the level of disregard repeatedly shown to Nigerian doctors, who continue to work under poor conditions, severe manpower shortages, and inadequate infrastructure,” the statement said. NARD also pointed out that the government has failed to honour the 2009 collective bargaining agreement with doctors for over a decade.
The association argued that the new structure is not competitive and fails to address the economic realities faced by healthcare professionals. It warned that the circular overlooks the major factors driving the mass migration of Nigerian health workers abroad, such as burnout, poor welfare, and lack of overtime pay.
“The NSIWC unilaterally conjured a chaotic allowance structure without transparency or a proper framework that ensures mutual respect and understanding,” the statement continued. “The new structure lacks attractive and adequate compensation to reflect the country’s harsh economic conditions. It does nothing to address the workforce crisis caused by poor welfare, excessive workload, mental fatigue, and unpaid overtime.”
NARD described the move as a “disrespectful gesture” to doctors who continue to serve the nation despite significant challenges.
The association called for a new negotiation team that upholds the principles of the existing collective bargaining agreement. “NARD demands a revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and allowances, as submitted to the Federal Ministry of Health, including payment of specialist allowances to all doctors,” the statement read.
It added that NARD stands in solidarity with the NMA’s demands and supports the call for a fresh negotiation team aligned with agreed principles.
The Nigerian Medical Association has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to withdraw the circular and meet its other demands to avoid industrial action in the health sector. The NMA described the allowance review as disappointing and condemned its lack of fairness in adjusting allowances under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for medical and dental practitioners.
ADEOLA KUNLE
