The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has alerted the general public, the Benue State Government, and health sector stakeholders to a deepening welfare crisis at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, warning that the situation threatens healthcare delivery and the professional dignity of doctors.
The association said resident doctors have been compelled to embark on industrial action since November 1, 2025, following the non-payment of 18 months’ salary arrears covering June 2023 to November 2024, alongside other unresolved welfare issues. It cautioned that continued inaction could further destabilise the hospital.
In a statement, the President of NARD, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, said the arrears represent legitimate earnings for services already rendered, noting that the hospital management and the state government have failed to honour repeated engagements and formal correspondence. “The situation at BSUTH has reached a critical point,” he said, “and unless urgent intervention is taken, the welfare of resident doctors, the quality of healthcare delivery, and postgraduate medical training are all at risk.”
NARD expressed deep concern over the handling of the crisis by the management of BSUTH, highlighting actions it said have worsened doctors’ hardship and eroded trust. According to the association, resident doctors received severely reduced salaries in January 2026, with take-home pay for some as low as ₦158.66, and ₦27,326.59 for Senior Registrars, while other statutory and earned allowances were withheld without explanation.
The association further stated that doctors occupying staff quarters have been issued eviction notices under the pretext of renovation, thereby compounding their difficulties. In addition, postgraduate training accreditation processes have reportedly been suspended or disrupted, while threats have been made to terminate or truncate residency programmes on the grounds of overstaying, without due consideration for systemic delays and manpower shortages.
NARD also raised concerns over a memo dated January 13, 2026, which instructed the recovery of allowances paid in November and December 2025, despite these payments being statutory components of doctors’ remuneration. It said threats to apply the “No Work, No Pay” principle during an ongoing labour dispute have further strained industrial relations at the institution.
In response to the situation, NARD said it has resolved to issue a formal open letter to the Governor of Benue State, calling for immediate executive intervention, and to escalate the matter to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, citing the broader implications of welfare violations in state-owned teaching hospitals. The association also cautioned the Chief Medical Director of BSUTH to halt actions capable of worsening the crisis and to prioritise steps aimed at restoring stability and normalcy.
NARD demanded the immediate and full restoration of all deducted allowances, the prompt payment of the 18 months’ salary arrears, and a clear, verifiable commitment by the management of BSUTH to prioritise the welfare and retention of resident doctors. It also called for the reversal of all actions aimed at terminating or truncating postgraduate training programmes, and urged the governor to consider decisive intervention, including the declaration of a state of emergency, if necessary.
Dr. Suleiman warned that failure to address the crisis could lead to coordinated national protests in Makurdi, other parts of Benue State, and Abuja. He stressed that NARD remains open to dialogue, but unwavering in its duty to defend the welfare and training of its members. “The situation at BSUTH is a critical test of governance, labour justice, and commitment to healthcare development,” the statement added.
The press statement was signed by Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman (President), Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim (Secretary-General), and Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim (Publicity and Social Secretary).
