The Federal Government has stated that existing civil service regulations do not permit the payment of special allowances to resident doctors, describing them as specialists-in-training rather than certified specialists.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, made the clarification while addressing issues at the centre of ongoing disagreements between the government and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, Salako explained that the special allowances and specialist recognition being demanded by resident doctors are reserved strictly for consultants who have completed their training and obtained the required certifications.
He warned that granting such allowances to resident doctors would have wider implications for the health sector, as it could prompt similar demands from other professionals still undergoing training. According to him, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has already advised against such a move.
The minister also addressed accusations that the Federal Ministry of Health was responsible for delays in issuing professional certificates to doctors. He stressed that certification processes are handled by independent regulatory bodies and are beyond the control of the ministry.
Salako explained that the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), which oversees specialist medical training, does not issue certificates after the Part I examinations, noting that this policy is long-standing and cannot be altered by ministerial intervention.
“The 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,” he said.
Despite the disagreements, Salako assured that the Federal Government remains committed to resolving all legitimate concerns raised by resident doctors within the framework of the law. He added that discussions with NARD have made significant progress, with the number of outstanding demands reduced from 19 to nine.
