Politicians, Resident Doctors, and Equity
By Tony Marinho, November 5, 2025
Politicians have become the unit of measure, with everything being evaluated against the politics of the day. The strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) must be considered in the context of long-standing political extravagance.
The issue did not start today, but it should end with the current regime, which is committed to good governance. As the saying goes,
a labourer is worthy of wages, but in this case, wages are low. Nigerian professionals, including doctors, are worthy of fair compensation, just like politicians.
However, the significant difference in salaries between politicians and professionals is
morally and nationally destructive. The plight of medical professionals today could have been prevented with the implementation of existing agreements and negotiation. Historically,
up until 1980, there was no payment for call-duty.
The salary disparity and neglect of medical professionals' welfare are issues that need to be addressed. The current regime has an opportunity to end this long-standing problem and ensure equity in compensation.
- Low wages for Nigerian professionals
- Significant salary difference between politicians and professionals
- Non-implementation of existing agreements and negotiation
Author's summary: Politicians' high salaries hinder fair compensation for doctors.