The Federal Government has clarified that existing civil service regulations do not provide for special allowances for resident doctors, who are officially classified as specialists undergoing training.
According to the government, the allowances and specialist recognition being requested by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) are benefits strictly meant for fully certified consultants, not doctors still in training.
This position was explained by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, as part of efforts to address ongoing disagreements between the government and resident doctors.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, Dr. Salako warned that granting the requested allowances to resident doctors could trigger similar demands across the health sector. He noted that other professional groups undergoing various stages of training might seek comparable benefits, a scenario the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has already advised against.
The Minister also addressed claims that the Federal Ministry of Health is responsible for delays in the issuance of professional certificates. He explained that certification processes fall under the authority of independent regulatory bodies and are beyond the ministry’s control.
Dr. Salako clarified that the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), which regulates specialist medical training, does not issue certificates to doctors who have only completed Part I of their examinations. He emphasized that this policy is determined by the college and cannot be altered by ministerial directive.
“The allegation that the government is withholding certificates is incorrect. The Postgraduate Medical College does not award certificates after Part I examinations, and that policy is outside the purview of the ministry,” Salako stated.
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Despite the disagreements, the Minister reassured that the government remains committed to resolving all genuine concerns raised by resident doctors within the limits of the law. He disclosed that negotiations with NARD have yielded progress, with unresolved demands reduced from 19 to nine.
