Weekly Roundup: Doctors’ 19 complaints against FG

By Emmanuel Kwada 

This is another week of industrial action. Our hospitals are deserted by 11,000 resident doctors, leaving patients stranded nationwide. Reading the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) 19 demands unmet by government shows how things could be taken for granted in Nigeria.

On the political front, INEC rallies voters for the Anambra election, attributing 75% of litigations to pre-election disputes. A US Congress bill seeks visa bans on Miyetti Allah leaders amid security concerns, while the National Assembly proposes a 14-year jail term for sexual harassment of students. Tragically, cholera claims 10 lives in an Adamawa local government, urging urgent public health interventions.

Dive into the week’s defining moments as THE INSIGHT guides you through Nigeria’s unfolding stories.

Here are the 19 demands 

The indefinite nationwide strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), now in its seventh day, leaves thousands of patients stranded in federal and state-owned hospitals. Teaching hospitals and tertiary facilities, heavily reliant on the 9,000-strong resident doctors for specialist care, report deserted wards, delayed surgeries, and emergency cases turned away, exacerbating the nation’s chronic health crisis amid rising insecurity and economic hardship.

The strike, declared at midnight on November 1, 2025, stems from the Federal Government’s failure to address NARD’s 19-point “minimum demands,” issued after a 30-day ultimatum expired in September.

NARD President, Dr Mohammed Suleiman

NARD President Dr. Muhammad Usman Suleiman accused the administration of “misinformation and half-measures,” noting that only two demands; the 25-35% salary review arrears and 2024 accoutrement allowance have seen partial progress, with ₦21.3 billion disbursed but not fully credited to members.

Seventeen issues remain unresolved, including long-overdue payments totaling over ₦38 billion in allowances and arrears spanning five years.

In a communiqué posted on NARD’s official X account, the union detailed the demands as essential to avert a “total collapse of service delivery.” These include systemic reforms to combat doctor shortages, worsened by brain drain, and improve welfare amid excessive workloads that endanger both practitioners and patients.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has backed the action, urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene decisively.

Patients bear the brunt: At the General Hospital, Nyanya in Abuja, expectant mothers were redirected to private clinics, while cancer patients missed chemotherapy sessions at the National Hospital.

The 19 Demands of NARD:

1. Immediate payment of five months’ arrears from the 25-35% CONMESS review (due by August 2025).
2. Payment of 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears.
3. Review and reversal of the unjust dismissal of five resident doctors at Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja.
4. Payment of promotion arrears to medical officers in federal tertiary institutions.
5. Immediate implementation of specialist allowances for all doctors.
6. Inclusion of medical and dental house officers in the civil service scheme with full entitlements.
7. Correction of all erroneous entry-level placements of doctors.
8. Immediate payment of all skipped salary arrears for house officers.
9. Review of the MRTF to reflect current economic realities.
10. Immediate release of the 2025 MRTF.
11. Immediate payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances to house officers across all federal and state health institutions.
12. Immediate implementation of the NMA-Federal Government circular on house officer employment.
13. Urgent pension reforms for doctors’ post-service welfare.
14. Recognition and compensation for doctors’ occupational hazards.
15. Immediate recruitment into vacant positions in federal health institutions.
16. Regularization of all locum and casual doctor staff.
17. Payment of upgrade arrears.
18. Enforcement of professional allowances.
19. Immediate commencement of payments for all outstanding entitlements, including hazard allowances.

NARD insists on full compliance, warning that partial fixes won’t suffice. As talks stall, experts fear prolonged disruption could spike maternal mortality and infectious disease outbreaks. The government has appealed for restraint, promising dialogue, but with no end in sight, Nigeria’s ailing health sector hangs in the balance.

AEDC Head office, Abuja

How DSS, AEDC Sack Over 915 Workers Amid Nigeria’s Economic Woes

In a dual wave of workforce reductions, Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) have dismissed a combined total of over 915 employees, exacerbating unemployment concerns in a nation grappling with inflation, insecurity, and power sector instability.

The DSS announced on Tuesday the dismissal of 115 personnel as part of internal reforms to uphold discipline and integrity. In a statement posted on its official X account, the agency revealed that the action stemmed from a thorough review process.

The unions first said nobody should be sacked, but later they allegedly agreed to 800

The names of the affected individuals have been published on its website (dss.gov.ng/media/more/4). The DSS warned the public against transacting with these ex-staff, some of whom continue impersonating officials for fraudulent activities.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to desist from any official dealing with these individuals,” the statement read. Citizens were urged to report suspicions via official channels, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to professionalism.

Social commentator Verydarkman highlighted potential risks on X, noting: “DSS sacking 115 personnels means 115 professionals in handling guns are going to be sitting down at home unemployed. It also means insecurity, these are people who know where guns are sold and have connections with criminals.”

Separately, AEDC initiated a mass retrenchment on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, affecting approximately 800 workers across its operations in the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Niger, and Nasarawa States.

DSS

Sources within the company disclosed that management initially planned to sack 1,800 employees but scaled back to 800 following intense negotiations with the National Union of Electricity Employees and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies.

“The unions first said nobody should be sacked, but later they allegedly agreed to 800,” one anonymous employee revealed.

A sample disengagement letter, dated November 5 and signed by Chief Human Resources Officer Adeniyi Adejola, described the move as part of an “ongoing rightsizing exercise.” It assured affected staff of due entitlements post-exit clearance, including deductions for taxes, loans, and advances.

AEDC’s Head of Customer Experience, Kenechukwu Ofili, confirmed the layoffs as a “normal routine exercise” handled per agreed frameworks, with an official statement forthcoming.

DSS sacking 115 personnels means 115 professionals in handling guns are going to be sitting down at home unemployed. It also means insecurity, these are people who know where guns are sold and have connections with criminals

These sackings total over 915 job losses, intensifying Nigeria’s economic pressures. The power sector’s woes marked by low investment, infrastructure decay, and regulatory scrutiny—could worsen service delivery, fueling public frustration over erratic supply and high bills. As unemployment rises, experts warn of broader social and security implications in an already strained economy.

Ominous shortage of university lecturers

The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has issued a stark warning over the “intellectual haemorrhage” plaguing Nigeria’s academia, with thousands of lecturers and non-teaching staff exiting public universities without replacements, threatening the sector’s collapse.

Chairman Abubakar Hassan Fulata raised the alarm during an oversight visit to South-East institutions, citing the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where over 3,000 staff have departed since 2019 via retirement or death, yet only 500 vacancies were approved for filling.

House of Representatives

Fulata decried the trend as “dangerous,” driven by poor remuneration, inadequate research facilities, and instability, forcing reliance on adjunct lecturers and risking accreditation failures. ASUU echoed this, reporting 309 professors resigned in nine months, migrating to the UK, Canada, and Saudi Arabia for better prospects. National Universities Commission officials confirmed the brain drain erodes global standing.

The panel urged immediate recruitment adhering to federal character principles and sustained funding to halt the exodus. “This is unsustainable for innovation and knowledge economy,” Fulata warned. Amid chronic underfunding and infrastructure decay, the crisis could exacerbate strikes, as ASUU’s October ultimatum looms. Lawmakers pledged stakeholder engagement to revive the system.

Will Anambra politicians adhere to Amupitan’s sermon?

As Anambra State gears up for its November 8 governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified voter mobilization while decrying how internal party disputes fuel 75% of election litigations, draining resources and delaying justice. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan disclosed this Wednesday in Awka, noting most cases arise from primaries violating party constitutions and the Electoral Act, often dragging INEC into costly defenses.

INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan

Amupitan urged parties to embrace internal democracy, citing a Supreme Court ruling affirming INEC’s role in party registration. Amid low turnout concerns—Anambra’s historical apathy—he rallied citizens to collect PVCs (63.9% collected by deadline) and shun inducements, assuring NYSC corps members of safety and allowances.

Sensitive materials were distributed Thursday to 21 LGAs after inspection, targeting 5,718 polling units. Stakeholders praised transparency but called for unbiased enforcement. Amupitan vowed to curb pre-election battles, labeling them “litigation by other means.” With campaigns peaking, INEC’s push aims to boost participation and credibility in a race dominated by APGA’s Chukwuma Soludo seeking re-election.

Cholera Kills 10 in Adamawa LG

A cholera outbreak in Mubi Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State has claimed 10 lives, prompting urgent hygiene campaigns and medical interventions amid fears of wider spread in the flood-prone northeast. Health Commissioner Dr. Felix Tangwami confirmed Wednesday that victims died at home without seeking facility care, with several others under treatment; contact tracing is underway to curb transmission.

FILE Photo: Patients in the hospital

Caused by contaminated water and food, the acute diarrheal disease thrives in Mubi’s overcrowded, sanitation-challenged communities, exacerbated by recent rains and displacement from Boko Haram conflicts. Tangwani urged handwashing, safe water boiling, and prompt reporting, enlisting traditional leaders for awareness.

Adamawa joins a national surge, with over 1,000 cases reported nationwide this year. Health teams are deploying oral rehydration salts and antibiotics, but experts warn underfunding hampers response. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri mobilized resources, stressing community vigilance to prevent escalation in vulnerable border areas.

Jail term makes ‘sexual harassment’ expensive

In a landmark push against campus abuse, Nigeria’s National Assembly has passed the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025, mandating 5-14 years’ imprisonment without fine for educators guilty of exploiting students, alongside penalties for concealing institutions. The Senate concurred Wednesday with the House version (HB.1597), sponsored by Rep. Zakariya Mbacke, following exposés like the 2019 “sex-for-grades” scandal.

The law requires each tertiary institution to form an Independent Sexual Harassment Committee for probes, allowing complaints via police, Attorney-General, or guardians. Offenders face dismissal and sex offender registration; institutions risk funding cuts for cover-ups.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele hailed it as a “triumph for student dignity,” addressing power imbalances in academia. Awaiting presidential assent, the bill promises safer learning environments, though implementation challenges like underreporting persist amid cultural stigmas.

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