The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the federal government to fully implement outstanding agreements on salaries, allowances and welfare.

The decision was taken at the end of the association’s national executive council (NEC) meeting and scientific conference, held from January 25 to 29, 2026, in Jos, Plateau state.

In a communiqué signed by Mohammad Suleiman, NARD president, the association expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other key stakeholders for their roles in ongoing engagements.

The NEC acknowledged the reinstatement of disengaged doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and commended the intervention of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS) on the outstanding 25 and 35 percent consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS) and accoutrement allowance arrears.

NARD also noted that promotion and salary arrears had been forwarded to relevant authorities, with assurances from the minister of finance that payments would be expedited.

However, the association expressed concern over delays in circulating the directive affirming CONMESS 3 as the approved entry level for medical doctors.

It also decried the non-payment of the professional allowance provided for in the 2026 Appropriation Act and persistent salary arrears across several health institutions.

The association warned of worsening industrial relations at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital. It demanded urgent action, alongside calls for improved welfare, timely release of training funds and renewed investment in health infrastructure nationwide.

“The NEC demands the expeditious clearance of the outstanding 25%/35% CONMESS arrears and accoutrement allowance arrears within the assured two weeks, as committed by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), following the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,” the communique reads.

“The NEC demands the prompt payment of all promotion arrears already forwarded to the appropriate authorities, in line with the assurances of the Honourable Minister of Finance for payment within the next four (4) weeks.

“The NEC demands the expedited payment of all outstanding salary arrears owed to specific centres, which have been duly forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Finance for processing, within the assured four (4) week timeline.

“After exhaustive deliberations and in recognition of the progress made by the Federal Government towards addressing the legitimate demands of Nigerian resident doctors, the NEC has resolved to extend the suspension of the Total Indefinite Comprehensive Strike (TICS) for a further period of four (4) weeks as a further goodwill gesture, to allow for the full implementation of the Association’s demands.”

The association had earlier suspended its plan to commence another strike on January 12.

The doctors said this was done after firm commitments from critical stakeholders following Shettima’s intervention.

A Lagos-based couple, identified simply as Fred and Goodness, have been arrested for allegedly staging their own kidnap and extorting N10m in ransom from their families and friends.

According to Punch Newspaper, the couple faked the abduction on January 7 to solicit funds for the husband, who intended to return to the United States due to a lack of financial support.

A police source who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday said the suspects contacted relatives on both sides of the family and claimed they had been kidnapped while demanding ransom.

The source added that the families raised N10m within three days, believing the money was meant to secure their release.

“The couple faked their kidnapping, thereby calling on friends and families for contributions towards the ransom payment. And what happened was, according to them, the husband wanted to travel back to the US, and he needed some money, but their sponsors were not forthcoming, so they planned it together that maybe by the time they do that, they’ll be able to raise some money.”

Speaking on their arrest, another police source in the command said the couple arranged a meeting at a school in Cappa, Mushin, Lagos, where the ransom was to be delivered.

“Operatives monitoring the area noticed the woman entering the premises alone, while the man arrived separately moments later. However, suspicion was raised when both suspects later emerged together carrying a bag.

“The operatives stopped them, searched the bag, and discovered the ransom money, prompting their immediate arrest. The wife said she was the one who encouraged the husband to make them plot the kidnap.”

The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police, where investigations confirmed that the incident was a case of self-kidnap.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Addebisi, confirmed the incident.

She said, “The couple will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.”

The incident added to the growing number of self-orchestrated abduction cases uncovered by law enforcement.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested six suspects for allegedly hacking into a telecommunication company in Nigeria to divert airtime and mobile data worth N7.7 billion.

A statement on Wednesday by Benjamin Hundeyin, the force spokesperson, said the suspects allegedly gained unlawful access to the telecommunications company’s core systems.

The suspects are Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad.

Hundeyin said operatives recovered two mini plazas, retail outlets containing over 400 laptops, 1,000 mobile phones, and a Toyota vehicle.

The force spokesperson said a “substantial” amount of money was traced to the suspects’ bank accounts.

“The syndicate was responsible for the illegal diversion of a telecommunications company’s airtime and data resources, resulting in an estimated financial loss of over ₦7.7 billion,” the statement reads.

“The breakthrough followed a petition by a Nigerian telecommunications company, which reported suspicious and unauthorized activities within its billing and payments infrastructure.

“Investigations revealed that internal staff login credentials had been compromised, granting threat actors unlawful access to core systems.

“Following weeks of planning, coordinated enforcement operations were executed in October 2025 in Kano and Katsina States, with a follow-up arrest in the Federal Capital Territory.

“The suspects would be charged to court on the completion of the investigation.

“Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has commended the officers involved in the investigation for their professionalism.”