NARD reiterates demand for reinstatement of 5 sacked doctors

The National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has demanded immediate reinstatement of five of their colleagues sacked at Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja to prevent a breakdown of industrial harmony.

NARD said this following solidarity visit of its President Dr Mohammed Usman Suleiman to the sacked doctors on Tuesday.

the NARD President was accompanied on the visit by the Secretary General and Treasurer of the association as well as his Chief of Staff.

Addressing newsmen, Lokoja, Suleiman, said the association is saying “enough is enough” as the sacked doctors have been out of work for over a year.

The sacked doctors were allegedly dismissed in October 2024, May and August 2025 by FTHL management led by former Chief Medical Director, Dr Olatunde Alabi, for their involvement in unionism activities against the hospital management.

Suleiman recalled that NARD during its recent 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM), gave the Federal Government a 30-day deadline to meet a series of outstanding welfare and policy demands affecting its members.

“Today is the 18th day of the 30-day ultimatum that NARD gave to the Federal Government to implement our demands, among which is the reinstatement of five doctors sacked at FTH Lokoja.

“NARD’s demands include the reinstatement of the sacked doctors, payment of unpaid promotion and salary arrears dating back to five years, unpaid 25 per cent and 35 per cent increment and entitlements,” he said.

Nigeria, he said, is facing a crisis in the health sector, with a ratio of one doctor servicing over 9,000 Nigerians, compared to the standard ratio of one doctor to 600 people.

Suleiman stressed that the federal government must be holistic in its approach to addressing the issues in the health sector.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to take urgent action, warning that if the situation is not addressed, it might lead to a national disaster.

Suleiman expressed NARD’s readiness to engage in dialogue with the federal government to resolve the issue.

“We need those sacked doctors back to reduce workloads in hospital. We inform Nigerians about Doctors’ plight.

“NARD is ready to discuss with federal government to reinstate sacked doctors,” he said.

Suleiman stressed the need for the continuation of the current ongoing collective bargain between the federal government and Nigerian doctors as well as other health workers without further delay.

“This is the only way to curb brain drain. “NARD is saying enough is enough,” he emphasised.

Suleiman commended the new Acting CMD of FTHL, Dr Ebune Ojochide, for his efforts and appealed to him to partner with NARD in their struggle for justice for the sacked doctors. (NAN)