The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has stated that the country’s healthcare system is facing a deepening crisis, lamenting that over 20,000 doctors have left the country in the past two decades due to persistent brain drain, poor welfare conditions, and inadequate medical infrastructure.
NARD said in a statement on Tuesday that despite repeated promises of reform, new data and testimonies reveal that the situation remains dire, with many House Officers, the nation’s entry-level resident doctors. still going unpaid in 2025.
The statement noted that the House Officers are often the first line of medical care in public hospitals, working long hours, managing emergency cases, and shouldering critical responsibilities in patient care. Yet, it said, many of them are reportedly enduring months without salaries.
NARD shared a chart by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare revealing that 18,949 doctors left Nigeria between 2005 and 2024.
Part of the statement reads: “House Officers are the first resident doctors. They are the first on call, full of energy and hope, often working tirelessly through long shifts—sometimes without even a proper meal. Yet in 2025, many of them are still unpaid for months. This is unacceptable.
“In the past 20 years, Nigeria has lost over 20,000 doctors to brain drain, driven by poor welfare and inadequate infrastructure. We cannot keep repeating the same mistakes and expect different outcomes.”
“We kindly call on the @Fmohnigeria (Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare) to resolve this issue and continue implementing policies that will improve our health systems,” the statement added.
In response to unmet demands, NARD and its State chapters have initiated several strikes this year.
For instance, in January, in the Federal Capital Territory, resident doctors embarked on a three-day warning strike, disrupting services in healthcare facilities within the capital territory.
In February, doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, embarked on an indefinite strike due to prolonged electricity blackouts, which severely hampered hospital operations and patient care.
