LOKOJA, Nigeria (Oct. 15, 2025) — The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has renewed its demand for the immediate reinstatement of five doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, in Kogi State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The association made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Katsina State. NARD said the doctors were unfairly sacked and gave the Federal Ministry of Health and the hospital management 30 days to reverse the decision or face possible industrial action.

According to the communiqué, NARD described the dismissal as unjust and a violation of due process. The association maintained that the doctors’ reinstatement is necessary to ensure fairness and to prevent further disruption to health services in the state.

“The AGM gives the Federal Ministry of Health and the management of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, 30 days to reinstate the five sacked medical doctors,” the statement read. “Failure to do so may force the association to take necessary actions in defense of its members.”

NARD also urged the federal government to pay all outstanding promotion arrears, salary shortfalls, and other entitlements owed to its members across various hospitals in the country. The group said some of the arrears date back more than five years, despite repeated assurances from government officials.

The association further expressed concern over what it described as “the creeping attempt” to create consultant positions for non-medical doctors in public hospitals. It warned that the move could “undermine the sanctity of the medical profession” and lower healthcare standards.

Resident doctors form the backbone of Nigeria’s public hospitals, handling most emergency and routine medical duties. However, they have long complained of poor welfare conditions, delayed salaries, and inadequate facilities.

In Kogi State, the dismissal of the five doctors has become a flashpoint in the larger debate over how the government treats medical professionals. The affected doctors were reportedly dismissed following internal disputes at the hospital, though details of the disciplinary process remain unclear.

NARD said the dismissals have worsened morale among healthcare workers and disrupted hospital operations. The association urged the federal government to intervene to prevent further breakdown in services.

Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, NARD’s national president, said the association remains committed to dialogue but will not hesitate to act if its demands are ignored.

“We have exhausted all channels of communication,” Suleiman said. “It is time for the government to show that it values its health workers by correcting this injustice and addressing the welfare challenges facing resident doctors nationwide.”

Health experts warn that continued tension between the government and medical workers could worsen Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system. Many doctors have migrated abroad in recent years in search of better pay and working conditions, leaving local hospitals understaffed.

Attempts to get a response from the Federal Ministry of Health on NARD’s ultimatum were unsuccessful as of press time. Officials at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, have also not commented publicly on the matter.

The association said it expects a concrete response before the end of the 30-day period. If its demands are not met, NARD leaders say they will convene an emergency meeting to decide on the next line of action.

As the deadline approaches, patients and healthcare workers alike are watching closely. A failure to resolve the dispute could trigger another round of strikes — a scenario that could further strain public hospitals and delay medical care for thousands of Nigerians.