Resident Doctors Warn Nigerian Government: “We’re Not Slaves, Enough Is Enough”

President of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Mohammed Suleiman, has declared that Nigerian doctors will no longer tolerate what he described as “slave-like” working conditions.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, Suleiman announced that, effective October 1, doctors have been directed to limit on-call duties to a maximum of 24 hours. He said the measure is aimed at tackling burnout, poor welfare, and the increasing number of doctors leaving the country.

“This decision is not just about us—it’s about patient safety too,” Suleiman said. “Doctors cannot continue to work in unsafe conditions that compromise their health and the quality of care.”

He revealed that NARD has issued a 30-day ultimatum to the federal government to address its long-standing demands, warning that further inaction could escalate the situation.

Highlighting the severity of the brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector, Suleiman said: “In the last 10 years, we have lost close to 15,000 to 16,000 doctors to other countries. This is unsustainable.”

He also recalled a past mass dismissal of doctors, noting: “Ten years ago, the federal government sacked about 15,000 doctors following a strike, but they were eventually reinstated.”

The NARD President warned that the worsening shortage of healthcare personnel has left remaining doctors overwhelmed with excessive workloads, further endangering both staff and patients.

He added that the decision to limit call hours was unanimously adopted during NARD’s annual general meeting held in Katsina, where members reaffirmed that doctors must no longer be treated as expendable.

“We are not slaves,” Suleiman emphasized. “Our wellbeing must be protected if we are to continue serving this country effectively.”