Fatimah Otunsanya
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, urging his immediate intervention in what it described as the worsening state of the country’s health sector.
It was reported earlier that NARD listed 19 demands which it described as the minimum expectations required to avert a total and indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to commence on October 31.
In a Monday letter titled “A Passionate Appeal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Federation,” signed by the association’s president, Mohammad Suleiman, the doctors said the healthcare system was on the verge of collapse, describing the situation as “a national emergency and a matter of national security.”
Suleiman said the association decided to reach out directly to the President out of “deep concern and a profound sense of duty,” adding that resident doctors, who provide specialist care across Nigerian hospitals, have been neglected despite their vital role in healthcare delivery.
He said, “Your Excellency, we are aware that some individuals around you may have assured you that the challenges facing resident doctors have been resolved.
“Respectfully, sir, that information is not accurate. Our realities in the hospitals across Nigeria tell a different story.”
The NARD president stated that many members were still being owed their legitimate entitlements “despite several signed agreements and repeated assurances from government representatives.”
He continued, “We are not politicians. We are doctors; men and women devoted to saving lives, working long hours in often harsh and under-resourced conditions.
Concluding the letter dated 27 October 2025, Suleiman added, “May God grant you the wisdom, strength, and goodwill to act swiftly in the interest of all Nigerians. Thank you, Your Excellency, for your kind attention and anticipated action.”