The Federal Government has moved to defuse the looming strike threatened by resident doctors from January 12, 2026, outlining a ₦90 billion annual increase in health workers’ allowances as part of efforts to sustain industrial peace and ensure uninterrupted healthcare delivery nationwide.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on the AIT Kaakaki programme, where he addressed the ongoing negotiations with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and clarified government’s position on the disputed issues.
According to a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Salako stressed that the standoff with resident doctors stems largely from structural and policy constraints, not government neglect.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to industrial harmony, noting that while the government recognises the need for improved remuneration for health workers, such demands must be balanced against competing national priorities in education, security and infrastructure, within the limits of available revenue.
Dr. Salako revealed that in November 2025, the Tinubu administration approved an upward review of professional allowances for health workers, increasing government expenditure by nearly ₦90 billion annually. The reviewed allowances cover call duty, shift duty, non-clinical duty and rural posting, and were the outcome of joint negotiations involving all categories of health workers.
He explained that previous engagements with health professionals were often fragmented, with different groups negotiating separately, resulting in inconsistencies in pay parity and relativity, and frequent industrial actions. To resolve this, the Ministry adopted a collective bargaining framework that brought doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and other health workers to the negotiation table together.
On NARD’s demands, the Minister said discussions have made progress, with the association’s requests reducing from 19 to nine. However, he noted that some outstanding issues are limited by existing civil service rules and approved schemes of service.
Addressing the demand for specialist allowance for resident doctors, Dr. Salako clarified that resident doctors are specialists-in-training, and that under current regulations, specialist allowances are reserved for consultants.
He added that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission had advised against extending the allowance to residents, warning that it could trigger similar claims from other health workers undergoing specialist training.
He also dismissed allegations of government inaction on certification matters, explaining that the National Postgraduate Medical College does not issue certificates after Part I examinations, a policy beyond the Ministry’s authority to alter.
On the disengagement of five resident doctors in Lokoja, Dr. Salako said the cases followed established 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, all in line with due process.
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While acknowledging public frustration over recurrent strikes in the health sector, the Minister noted that industrial actions by doctors are not unique to Nigeria, citing similar disputes in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, working with the Federal Ministry of Labour and other stakeholders, remains committed to sustained dialogue aimed at stabilising the health sector, maintaining industrial harmony and preventing future disruptions to healthcare services.
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