BY EDMOND ODOK – The Federal Government has commenced payment of long-awaited arrears arising from the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review to members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
Confirming this cheering news in a letter addressed to all members, Publicity and Social Secretary of NARD, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim, said the arrears, covering between one and six months for some members, are being disbursed already.
With many doctors already confirming receipt of the arrears, the statement by Dr Ibrahim said: “The leadership of NARD… is pleased to inform all members that payment of the outstanding 25/35 CONMESS review arrears… has commenced”.
The NARD’s Spokesperson, who reassured members yet to be credited that payments would be completed in due course, called for patience, explaining that the August component of the arrears was encountering minor administrative challenges, which could delay payments by up to about two weeks.
According to him, “Payments for August are currently facing a few challenges that are being addressed… the August arrears may be delayed by about a week or two”.
With insider sources hinting that the latest development signals progress in ongoing efforts by the government to address welfare concerns and avert potential labour unrest, the NARD Spokeman advised that members with unresolved payment issues after the disbursement period should channel complaints through their respective centre leadership for prompt resolution.
He said: “We sincerely appreciate your patience, resilience, and continued trust… Be assured that we remain steadfast and committed to the welfare and well-being of all NARD members”.
It is on record that the CONMESS review is a perennial battlefield between Nigerian doctors and the government with persistent delays in adjusting salaries and settling arrears repeatedly forcing NARD into industrial action, and crippling healthcare services nationwide.
Available information indicates that driven by deep-seated welfare concerns, including perilous working conditions and stagnant wages, a significant exodus of medical professionals has continued to shake Nigeria’s health sector with industry estimates confirming that thousands of physicians have migrated abroad in search of greener pastures, leaving a widening, critical gap in local care.
This mounting brain drain has put immense strain on the system, drastically worsening the country’s doctor-to-patient ratio, industry experts have lamented.
