By Ayo Kehinde
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ending recurring strikes by resident doctors, disclosing that it has adopted a collective bargaining framework and approved an annual ₦90 billion increase in health workers’ allowances to promote industrial harmony in the sector.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made this known on Tuesday during an interview on the AIT Kaakaki programme, where he addressed the ongoing standoff with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
Dr Salako explained that the dispute is rooted in structural and policy issues rather than neglect, stressing that the Tinubu administration has taken concrete steps to address long-standing grievances in the health sector. He revealed that in November 2025, the Federal Government approved an upward review of professional allowances for health workers, adding nearly ₦90 billion to annual government expenditure.
According to him, the increment covers call duty, shift duty, non-clinical duty and rural posting allowances and was reached through joint negotiations involving all health worker groups, including doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and others.
The minister noted that previous negotiations were often fragmented, with different professional groups engaging the government separately, leading to conflicting agreements on pay parity and repeated industrial actions. To resolve this, he said the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare adopted a collective bargaining approach to ensure inclusiveness and consistency in agreements.
On NARD’s demands, Dr Salako disclosed that the association’s requests had reduced from 19 to nine, indicating progress in talks. He added that some outstanding demands are constrained by existing civil service rules and approved schemes of service.
Addressing calls for specialist allowances for resident doctors, the minister clarified that resident doctors are specialists-in-training and that current regulations reserve specialist allowances for consultants. He added that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission had advised against extending the allowance to residents, warning it could prompt similar demands from other health workers undergoing specialist training.
Dr Salako also dismissed claims of inaction on certification issues, explaining that the National Postgraduate Medical College does not issue certificates after Part I examinations, a policy he said the Ministry cannot override.
On the disengagement of five resident doctors in Lokoja, Kogi State, the minister said the matter arose from civil service disciplinary procedures. He disclosed that a ministerial review committee has recommended the reinstatement of two doctors, reprimand for two others, and a fresh disciplinary hearing for one, in line with due process.
While acknowledging public concern over frequent strikes, Dr. Salako noted that industrial actions by doctors are a global phenomenon, citing similar disputes in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe. He assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and other stakeholders, remains committed to dialogue that will stabilise the health sector, ensure industrial harmony and prevent disruptions to healthcare delivery.
