“We Can’t Keep Losing Members to Preventable Deaths” — Resident Doctors Enforce 24-Hour Shift Limit

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared that, beginning October 1, 2025, resident doctors across the country will no longer engage in continuous duty shifts that exceed 24 hours.

This decision was outlined in a statement signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim.

Nigeria’s health sector remains under severe strain, as thousands of medical professionals continue to migrate abroad in search of better working conditions. The federal government estimates that more than 16,000 doctors have left the country in the past five to seven years, leaving hospitals and training facilities struggling to cope.

According to NARD, the departure of doctors has left resident physicians carrying a disproportionate workload, with the nation now recording a troubling doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:19,083. The association noted that within a population of over 240 million people, only about 11,000 resident doctors remain, bringing the ratio for resident doctors alone to 1:9,083—far from international standards.

Resident doctors reportedly work an average of 106.5 hours weekly, with surgical residents clocking up to 122.7 hours, equating to four or five 24-hour call duties each week. NARD warned that such conditions compromise patient safety while taking a devastating toll on doctors’ physical, mental, and emotional health.

The association emphasized that burnout and exhaustion have led to increased medical errors, while many early-career doctors have lost their lives due to extreme working conditions. “Who looks after their families when they are gone?” the group asked, calling for urgent reforms to safeguard healthcare professionals.

NARD urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to implement a one-to-one replacement policy to ease the workload and to enforce regulations limiting excessive call hours. It also pressed for better pay, describing those who have chosen to remain in Nigeria despite mass emigration as “patriots and heroes” deserving protection and fair compensation.

Marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, the doctors said the celebration should also serve as a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by resident doctors and the urgent need for systemic reforms to prevent further avoidable deaths in the medical community.