The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the country’s worsening healthcare crisis, stressing the need for swift action to prevent further deterioration of medical services nationwide.
In a letter titled “A Passionate Appeal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Federation” and signed by its President, Mohammad Suleiman, the association warned that the country’s healthcare sector was on the verge of collapse due to unpaid entitlements, poor welfare, and unfulfilled agreements between the government and resident doctors.
The appeal, made public on Tuesday in Abuja, urged President Tinubu to personally step in to resolve the long-standing 19-point demands of the doctors in order to restore hope, trust, and stability in the sector.
Suleiman lamented that despite repeated assurances from government officials, many resident doctors were yet to receive their legitimate salaries, allowances, and other welfare benefits already approved by the Federal Government.
He said the situation had left frontline doctors demoralized, even as they continued to provide critical care to patients under harsh and under-resourced conditions.
“We are not politicians but doctors devoted to saving lives. Our appeal is simple, we seek not luxuries, but the basic salaries and welfare packages that have already been promised,” the association stated.
NARD further criticized what it called the inequity between government officials who receive full emoluments without delay and medical professionals struggling to survive despite being at the heart of the healthcare delivery system.
While commending Tinubu’s reputation for fairness and compassion, the association expressed confidence that his leadership could revive the ailing health system if urgent steps were taken to address the doctors’ grievances.
“Mr. President, we appeal to your fatherly leadership to personally intervene and rescue Nigeria’s health sector from total collapse,” the letter concluded.
