The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has listed 19 demands which it described as minimum expectations required to avert a total and indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Saturday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the President, Dr Muhammad Suleiman, stated this on Monday in Abuja at a media conference while presenting the resolutions of NARD’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

The meeting followed the expiration of its 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.

He said the association had exercised patience for too long in the face of government’s inaction, warning that doctors have already begun ward rounds and patient handover ahead of the planned industrial action.

According to him, the outstanding payments and welfare issues affect not only resident doctors but all categories of health professionals, including administrative staff.

Suleiman said the government currently owes doctors and other health workers across the country an estimated N38 billion in accumulated allowances, some dating back more than 10 years.

He said, “There are allowances of over two years, some for 18 months, seven months, four months and even 10 years. There has also been a failure to review the basic salary of doctors in this country for 16 years.”

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He noted that the association had suspended a five-day warning strike in September and extended its earlier ultimatum by 30 days to allow government address the demands, but the grace period had since elapsed without meaningful action.

“The Federal Government has failed to demonstrate the political will necessary to address the legitimate concerns of Nigerian resident doctors,” he said.

Suleiman explained that the 19-point demand presented by NARD represents the minimum action expected from government to prevent a total collapse of service delivery in the country’s public health system.

Among the demands, he said, are the immediate payment of outstanding 25-35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears and 2024 accoutrement allowance to doctors, as well as other pending financial entitlements owed to health workers.

The NEC also demanded the immediate reinstatement of five resident doctors unjustly terminated from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, with full payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances for the period of their disengagement.

He said the association further called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to develop and implement a humane “working-hours policy” for doctors in line with international best practices to safeguard both physician well-being and patient safety.

The NEC urged government to grant chief executives of hospitals greater autonomy to employ and replace doctors who exit the system through immediate implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy, to reduce excessive workload and burnout.

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It also demanded urgent upgrade and maintenance of infrastructure and medical equipment in all healthcare facilities nationwide to improve the quality of service delivery and training for resident doctors.

Suleiman said NARD demanded the immediate commencement of specialist allowance payments to all doctors, inclusion of medical and dental house officers in the civil service scheme with full entitlements, and correction of all entry-level placements of doctors.

He said the NEC also called for decentralisation of promotion processes, payment of arrears resulting from those corrections, and expedited conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Committee’s work on the long-overdue review of CONMESS and other professional allowances.

“The NEC further demands the immediate release and implementation of corrected tables of professional allowances and clear enforcement of relativity between CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures,” he added.

Other issues highlighted include the payment of accrued promotion arrears owed to medical officers, reversal of the practice of creating consultant cadres for non-medical personnel, and the abolition of casualisation of doctors, insisting that all locum staff must be regularised in accordance with public service rules.

Suleiman also noted that the association is demanding uniform implementation of all CONMESS circulars across federal, state, and private health institutions, and the immediate clearance of outstanding salary arrears owed to doctors in several centres.

He said NARD was also insisting on the immediate implementation of special pension benefits as earlier agreed between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

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Following the failure of government to meet these demands, Suleiman said, “NARD hereby declares a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike commencing at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday. All resident doctors in federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide are directed to withdraw their services completely and indefinitely until the Federal Government and affected state governments demonstrate genuine commitment to addressing our demands,” he added.

The NARD president appealed to President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene to prevent the strike and address the lingering issues affecting doctors and the health sector.

President Paul Biya has been declared winner of Cameroon’s presidential election, extending his rule to a record eighth consecutive term despite opposition claims of electoral fraud.

The Constitutional Council announced on Monday that Biya, 92, emerged victorious in the country’s disputed poll, cementing his position as the world’s oldest serving head of state. The result means Biya, who has ruled since 1982, will remain in power until 2032.

However, the declaration has been met with strong rejection from opposition leaders. Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Biya’s main challenger, had earlier declared himself the winner, insisting that the official result would be “tainted” and “not reflective of the people’s will.”

The senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, has said he feels sorry for men who have only one wife, arguing that polygamy gives men greater stability and balance.

The lawmaker stated this on Sunday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He also addressed recent allegations of domestic violence made against him by his actress wife, Regina Daniels.

When asked how he manages to live with four wives, something many men find difficult, Nwoko paused briefly before replying.

“That is a different topic for discussion on another day. Yes, every man should do that. The example I give is this: just imagine telling you to stand on one foot or leg. You know how difficult it is.

“But to stand on two, three, four is much more balanced. That’s just the example I give. So I feel sorry for those who have one wife because it’s difficult to stand on one leg,” he said.

When reminded that the Holy Bible does not support polygamy, Nwoko maintained that it does. “The Old Testament does. I am a man of faith. But that’s not what we are here for,” he said.

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Asked if he had any regrets about his marital choices, the senator said he did not.

“No, I don’t have any regret. I will do the same thing again. Of course, that’s the way it should be. You should marry who you want to marry,” he stated.

Reacting to the allegations of domestic violence, Nwoko denied the claims. “No, come on. You know I am not a violent person. I respect my wives. I love them and my kids,” he said.

His comments came shortly after Regina Daniels, his estranged wife, showed off a newly acquired mansion on social media amid reports of a marital crisis.

Tribune Online reports that in a post on Instagram on Sunday, the Nollywood actress shared photos and videos of the property with the caption, “In my house, I am a Queen! I needed a roof over my head, so I got this for me and my family.”

The post came after a viral video from October 18 showed her in tears outside her Abuja residence, alleging abuse.

“In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing, but in my own house, I am a Queen. Not again. I can’t stand the violence, it’s too much,” she said.

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The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has declared that God in heaven is a God of justice, as reported by Daily Post.

Kanu disclosed this while arriving at the Abuja Federal High Court to begin his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial.

He accused lawyers of not knowing what the law and justice is.

According to Kanu: “You are here you don’t know what law is, you don’t know what Justice is. You don’t know that God is a God of Justice, you don’t know that?

“You don’t know that God in heaven is a God of Justice, you don’t know that?”

The IPOB leader is expected to begin his defence today after he names some imminent Nigerians to testify in his trial.

Last week, Kanu had disengaged his lawyers, stressing that he would defend himself before the Justice James Omotosho-led court.

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The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a suspected baby factory and human trafficking syndicate operating in Ore, the headquarters of the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, according to Channels Television.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Olushola Ayanlade.

Ayanlade said the case, which originated from the Ore division, had been transferred to the Command’s Gender-Based Violence Unit for thorough investigation.

The discovery followed a report made on October 21, 2025, by a 17-year-old girl, identified as Vivian Peter from Akwa Ibom State, who told the police that she had been trafficked from her home state to Ore under the guise of securing a job opportunity.

Upon arrival in Ore, the teenager was allegedly taken to a facility posing as a clinic, which later turned out to be a baby factory.

There, she reportedly met other pregnant girls being held against their will.

She disclosed that the operator of the facility, Ada Clement, instructed her to be taken to another hospital for a medical scan, but she managed to escape and reported the incident to the Ore Police Division.

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Acting swiftly on the report, police operatives from the Ore division, in collaboration with the gender unit, raided the facility, rescuing five pregnant girls and a baby boy.

One of the victims had already given birth and is currently receiving post-natal care at the General Hospital, Ore, while the others are in protective custody.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the prime suspect, Ada Clement, and some of her accomplices had confessed to operating the baby factory.

They reportedly admitted that the babies were sold to individuals seeking children, with male babies going for ₦600,000 and above, and female babies for ₦400,000 and above.

Ayanlade noted that the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, ordered a comprehensive and discreet investigation to ensure that all members of the syndicate are arrested and prosecuted.

He noted that detectives from the Command’s Gender-Based Violence Unit were already on the trail of other fleeing members of the ring.

Lawal reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in the fight against human trafficking, child exploitation, and all forms of gender-based violence.

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Lawal assured the public that the Command would continue to protect the vulnerable and ensure justice for victims of such heinous crimes.

Proposals for new states in Nigeria are gaining traction after successfully passing the second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bills, sponsored by lawmakers from various regions, aim to create new administrative entities by dividing existing states.

If approved, these new states could significantly alter the country’s geopolitical landscape and governance framework.

Below is a comprehensive listicle detailing each proposed state.

Ibadan State: On 9 October 2025, the Cable reported that a bill seeking to create Ibadan State from the existing Oyo State had passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Abass Adigun—who represents the Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East federal constituency—aimed to amend the 1999 Constitution to facilitate the creation of the new state.

Ijebu State: On 23 October 2025, Vanguard confirmed that the House of Representatives had passed for second reading a bill proposing the creation of Ijebu State from the present Ogun State.

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The legislation was sponsored by Hon. Olufemi Ogunbanwo, representing Ijebu Ode/Ijebu North East/Odogbolu Federal Constituency, alongside three other lawmakers.

The bill’s progression through the second reading stage depicted the growing demand for administrative decentralisation in the South-West, with proponents arguing that the Ijebu region deserved its own statehood due to its historical and economic significance.

Oke-Ogun, Ife-Ijesa, and Ijebu States featured in multi-state creation bill: In March 2025, Dailyrust reported that four bills seeking the creation of additional states had successfully passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

Among them was a consolidated bill sponsored by Rep. Oluwole Oke, which proposed the creation of three new states: Oke-Ogun State, Ijebu State, and Ife-Ijesa State.

This legislative package aimed to amend Part 1 of the First Schedule of the 1999 Constitution. The inclusion of Ijebu State in this bill reaffirmed its legislative traction, while Oke-Ogun and Ife-Ijesa emerged as fresh contenders for statehood in the South-West region.

Tiga state proposal gains ground in Kano region: Also among the bills reported by Dailyrust was HB.1308, sponsored by Rep. Ghali Mustapha Tijani. This legislation sought to create Tiga State from the present Kano State, with Rano proposed as the state capital.

The bill’s advancement to second reading reflected growing calls for administrative restructuring in the North-West, where population density and regional diversity have fuelled demands for more localised governance.

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Orlu State: Rep. Ikweagwuonu Ugochinyere sponsored HB.1430, a bill proposing the creation of Orlu State in the South-East region of Nigeria. According to Dailyrust, the bill passed second reading in March 2025, marking a significant step in the campaign for increased representation and autonomy in the region.

The proposed Orlu State would be carved from existing territories in the South-East, aiming to address long-standing concerns over political marginalisation and resource allocation.

Etiti State: Another South-East initiative was sponsored by Rep. George Ibezimako Ozodinobi. The bill proposed the creation of Etiti State, with Okigwe designated as its capital.

It successfully passed second reading in March 2025, as reported by Dailyrust. The legislation aimed to carve Etiti State from the existing five states in the South-East, reflecting a strategic push to enhance administrative efficiency and regional development.

While the bills have cleared second reading, they must still undergo further scrutiny and approval before any new states can be officially created.

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