The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has sounded a strong warning to the Nigerian government, insisting that doctors will no longer tolerate what it described as slave-like working conditions.

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, NARD President, Dr. Mohammed Suleiman, announced that doctors have been directed to limit call duties to a maximum of 24 hours starting from October 1.

The decision, he explained, follows mounting concerns about burnout, unsafe workloads, and the mass exodus of Nigerian doctors to other countries in search of better opportunities.

“If you look at the statistics, in the last 10 years, we have lost close to 15,000 to 16,000 doctors from this country,” Suleiman said.

He added that the association has issued a 30-day ultimatum to the federal government to address its demands, stressing that urgent reforms are needed to safeguard the health sector.

According to him, the move was unanimously adopted at NARD’s Annual General Meeting in Katsina, where members resolved to put their wellbeing first.

“Doctors are not slaves,” Suleiman emphasized. “We must prioritise our health and welfare if we are to keep serving Nigerians effectively.”

The warning comes amid growing fears of a worsening healthcare crisis, as the shortage of medical professionals continues to strain hospitals across the country.