Resident Doctors Seek President Tinubu’s Direct Intervention To Avert Health Sector Collapse

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has made an impassioned appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging his personal intervention to address what it described as the “non-implementation” of its 19-point demands — a situation the group warns could lead to the collapse of Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.

In a letter addressed to the President on Monday and titled “A Passionate Appeal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Federation,” NARD expressed deep concern over the worsening state of healthcare delivery in the country and the continued neglect of frontline medical workers.

The letter, signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, called on President Tinubu to resolve lingering issues, including the payment of outstanding salary arrears, full implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and the provision of improved welfare packages for resident doctors across the federation.

“We are not politicians. We are doctors — men and women devoted to saving lives, working long hours in often harsh and under-resourced conditions,” the letter read. “Our appeal is simple and sincere: we seek not luxuries, but the basic salaries, allowances, and welfare packages that have already been approved and promised by government.”

Dr. Suleiman lamented that despite multiple meetings, signed agreements, and assurances from relevant government agencies, many of their members have yet to receive their legitimate entitlements. He warned that the continued neglect of doctors and health workers poses a grave threat to the nation’s healthcare delivery system.

The appeal comes on the heels of a recent five-day warning strike by the association and its subsequent declaration of an indefinite nationwide strike slated to begin on November 1.

NARD urged President Tinubu to demonstrate “fatherly leadership” by taking decisive action to resolve the long-standing issues and restore trust within the medical community.

“Mr. President, you have always been known for your compassion, fairness, and courage in addressing difficult national challenges,” the doctors wrote. “We therefore appeal to you to personally intervene and resolve these long-standing issues to save our collapsing health system.”

The association maintained that genuine intervention from the President would not only boost morale among health professionals but also reaffirm the administration’s commitment to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s healthcare institutions.