– President Tinubu Orders Immediate Action to Restore Services

– Minister Sets Up Taskforce to Monitor Hospitals

The Federal Government has expressed deep concern over the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), assuring Nigerians that concrete steps are being taken to end the industrial action and restore normal services across public hospitals.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the ministry to take all legitimate measures to ensure resident doctors return to their duty posts without delay.

Dr. Salako tendered an unreserved apology to Nigerians affected by the disruption of medical services, emphasizing that the government remains committed to protecting citizens’ access to healthcare.

“On behalf of myself, the Coordinating Minister, and all top management staff of the ministry, I want to express our regret and unconditional apology to Nigerians, especially those who needed to access healthcare in the last 48 hours,” Salako stated.

“The President has expressly directed that we do everything possible and legitimate to ensure resident doctors are brought back to their duty posts as soon as possible.”

On the government’s ongoing efforts, the minister disclosed that the government has been engaging NARD and other health unions through the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) mechanism, inaugurated in August 2025, to address outstanding issues around wages, allowances, and working conditions.

He explained that two major areas of disagreement, salary relativity and consultant cadre appointments, are being reviewed by an independent industrial relations expert, with an interim report already submitted.

“We are not sitting idly. The government has addressed most of the 19 issues raised by the resident doctors,” he said. “We are taking our time to ensure whatever agreement we reach is sustainable and fair to all health workers.”

Addressing the staff shortages and welfare measures, responding to complaints about manpower shortages and work overload; Dr. Salako revealed that the ministry had recruited 14,444 health workers in 2024 and had already approved the employment of 23,059 more in 2025, across 78 federal tertiary health institutions.

He also announced the establishment of a ministerial taskforce to monitor hospital operations during the strike and ensure continuity of essential services.

“Consultants have been directed to maintain emergency and outpatient services,” Salako said. “We appeal to the public to be patient as we work towards resolving this crisis.”

Speaking on the financial commitments and allowance, the Minister disclosed that the government had released ₦21.3 billion to settle outstanding arrears and allowances, with about 60% of resident doctors already receiving payment alerts. An additional ₦11.9 billion has been processed for payment this week.

He further noted that ₦10 billion was earlier disbursed exclusively for the Medical Residency Training Fund, which supports doctors’ professional examinations.

Appealing for calm and cooperation, Dr. Salako appealed to striking resident doctors to return to work in good faith, emphasizing that the government recognizes their invaluable service and is committed to their welfare.

“If it were possible, we would pay our doctors ₦50 million monthly, because no one can truly compensate for a health worker’s service,” he noted. “But we must operate within the economic realities of the country.”

He reaffirmed that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would continue to engage all parties constructively to reach a lasting and fair resolution.

“The health sector is a team,” the minister concluded. “What affects one group affects all. Our goal is a unified, functional system that delivers quality care to Nigerians.”

Also speaking, clarifying the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria issue, Dr. Abdu Enejo, Deputy Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), clarified that there had been no “downgrading” of membership certificates from the West African College of Physicians and Surgeons, but rather a categorization of qualifications in line with regulatory standards.

“There has been no downgrade. What we have is categorization based on specialty and institution. Any wrongly classified qualification can be resubmitted for correction,” Enejo explained.

Assuring service continuity, in his remarks, Dr. Yahaya Adamu, Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, assured that consultants and key staff across federal hospitals are sustaining emergency and critical services despite the strike.

“Our emergency units and theatres remain open. We urge the public to come forward for urgent care when necessary,” Adamu said.