The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has proposed new work-hour regulations that would limit healthcare personnel to a maximum of 48 hours of work per week and introduce mandatory post-call rest.
The proposal followed deliberations between NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as a nationwide assessment involving 6,350 healthcare personnel across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Resident doctors, who are medical graduates undergoing specialist training, play a major role in staffing emergency wards and other hospital services across the country.
In a recent statement, Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, NARD’s publicity and social secretary, said the proposed framework included weekend duties and compensation for authorised extra working hours.
Under the guidelines, healthcare personnel would work a maximum of 48 hours weekly, including weekends. Any authorised excess hours would have to be documented and appropriately compensated.
Day shifts would be limited to eight hours, while afternoon shifts would not exceed six hours. Shifts lasting more than 12 hours would be restricted to emergency situations.
The proposal also limits call duties to two per week and one weekend call per month, with duties to be distributed equitably among eligible healthcare personnel.
Healthcare workers would be entitled to at least 12 hours of rest between regular shifts and mandatory 24-hour post-call rest after weekday, Saturday, Sunday and public-holiday calls.
The framework further provides for a minimum one-hour break after six hours of continuous work. Hospitals would be required to stagger such breaks to ensure patient care is not disrupted.
NARD said authorised excess hours should either be paid above the normal hourly rate or offset through structured time off.
The association also recommended protected time for research and professional development.
Ibrahim said the guidelines had been forwarded to medical directors and chief medical directors for implementation across health institutions.
NARD urged hospital managements and heads of departments to work towards full compliance, while asking its centre leaderships to engage management and monitor implementation.
Members were also advised to document cases of non-compliance and channel legitimate complaints through their centre leadership for appropriate action.
The association said a second document addressing casualisation and abusive locum appointments would be released soon.
However, NARD noted that the proposed work-hour guidelines remain subject to approval by the National Council on Health.
