The federal government has clarified that current civil service regulations do not allow special allowances for resident doctors, who are considered specialists-in-training.
According to the government, the special allowances and consultant status being demanded by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) are reserved exclusively for certified consultants.
The clarification was provided by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako. Speaking on issues causing tension between the government and resident doctors, Salako explained why the demands cannot be met under existing rules.
Gossip News Now reports that Salako, in a statement issued Tuesday by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, warned that granting such allowances to resident doctors could trigger similar demands from other professional groups in training. He noted that the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission has already advised against this.
The Minister also emphasized that the government cannot interfere with procedures regulated by independent professional bodies, particularly regarding the certification of doctors.
Addressing claims that the Federal Ministry of Health was delaying certificates, Salako clarified that the Ministry has no authority to change the policies of professional colleges. The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), which oversees specialist medical training, does not issue certificates to doctors after Part I examinations.
“This claim that government is delaying certificates is not accurate. The Postgraduate Medical College does not issue certificates for Part I, and that is its established policy. We cannot override that process,” the Minister stated.
Dr. Salako assured that the government remains committed to addressing all legitimate concerns of doctors within the bounds of the law. He noted that progress has been made in negotiations with NARD, with outstanding demands reduced from 19 to 9.
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