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NARD sets 24-hour call duty limit for doctors

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12 months ago

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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has directed its members to stop engaging in more than 24 hours of continuous call duty from today, October 1, 2025.

NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday, saying the move is aimed at protecting doctors’ health and ensuring safer care for patients.

“For too long, resident doctors in Nigeria have been overstretched with marathon call hours that take a toll on their health and compromise service delivery.

“From today, Wednesday, October 1, our members will no longer engage in more than 24 consecutive hours of call duty. Marathon call rosters are not tenable because doctors will make mistakes, collapse, or even die. Twenty-four hours are the maximum after, which rest is necessary.

“NARD is charging members to reject rosters that schedule back-to-back 24-hour calls,” Suleiman said.

He explained that the association had repeatedly raised concerns about excessive call schedules, which he described as unsafe and unsustainable.

“Any call roster that comes out, a doctor is only allowed to be on a straight 24-hour call once. After those 24 hours, he should go get rest. Then, the next day or the day after, you can put him on call. But to take a 24-hour call, at the end of that, continue another 24-hour call, continue another for a whole week, for a whole month, is no longer acceptable.

“That is why we are calling on the Federal Government, especially the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to bring out clear guidelines, clear, healthy call roster guidelines, so that this will not happen,” he said.

The NARD president clarified that the directive was not about refusing call duty, but about ensuring limits.

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“We are not saying we are not taking calls. We are taking calls. This is our job. We are delighted to do it, but we will not take it beyond 24 hours. After 24 hours, one needs to go and rest, eat, see their loved ones, refresh, watch a movie, or read a book. Then you now continue the other,” he said.

Suleiman recalled a tragic incident involving a young doctor in Rivers State.

According to him, the doctor had reportedly been on call for three days consecutively before being found dead in the call room.

“Some stories will tell you he had malaria, and he was on some medications. Some will tell you they don’t know what happened, but he was with his colleagues at the end of the three-day call, and then he said, ‘Let me go and rest in the call room,’ and he was no more.

“Even if that is not the direct cause of death, it is a remote contributing factor. You really cannot say that excess workload or burnout is not real. And that is why we are taking this stand,” he emphasized.

He further stated that long call hours were compounded by doctors’ other responsibilities.

“It is not just the call we are taking; we still have regular work that we do. We have patients that are already in the ward, medications that need to be served, and clinics that need to be run. It is not as if you are on call; you are now saying stop all other work,” he stated.

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Public officers are stealing Nigeria’s money every minute – EFCC boss

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4 hours ago

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September 26, 2026

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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, says public officers steal funds every minute.

Olukoyede spoke in Abuja on Thursday at the 80th birthday celebration of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi.

He stated that the anti-graft agency receives over 20,000 corruption petitions every year, describing the scale of the theft detailed in many cases as shocking.

“I receive over 20,000 petitions in a year in respect to public corruption, all terrible. What is going on? Like every minute, public officers take money, and if you go through some of our case files you will weep.

“The way people take national resources and Nigerians are victims of these fraudulent activities. And we must come together for once in our lifetime and say no to the activities of some of our leaders,” Olukoyede said.

The EFCC boss noted that some public officers assume office with less than ₦100,000 in their accounts, but within three years, the agency traces millions of dollars to them.

He added that some individuals acquire hundreds of houses while in office, warning that corruption is crippling the nation.

Olukoyede stressed that public officers must be held accountable for their time in office, emphasizing that transparency must remain the guiding standard in public service.

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VIDEO: Police identify officer in viral video saying Obi can never be President

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4 hours ago

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September 26, 2026

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The Lagos State Police Command has arrested an officer who appeared in a viral video making inappropriate remarks about Peter Obi and Igbo people while travelling on public transport.

The officer who has been identified as INSP. Osumah Frank, was filmed saying Obi or any Igbo person can never become President of Nigeria.

In a statement released today September 25, the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola said the command has commenced appropriate disciplinary action against the officer in line with established regulations of the Nigeria Police Force.

Abimbola stated that the statements made by the officer were made in his personal capacity and do not represent the position, views or official disposition of the Lagos State Police Command or the Nigeria Police Force.

She added that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, has reiterated the position of the command that all its personnel are expected to maintain professionalism, civility, discipline and respect for members of the public at all times. She further reaffirmed that wearing the Police uniform comes with a responsibility to uphold the dignity and integrity of the Force, and that the Command will not condone any conduct capable of bringing the Force into disrepute or undermining public confidence in the Police.

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Court rejects suit seeking fresh police investigation into late singer Mohbad’s death

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4 hours ago

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September 26, 2026

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to compel the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a fresh investigation into the death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

Justice James Omotosho dismissed the case filed by the Registered Trustees of Break the Silence Foundation in a judgment delivered on Thursday, ruling that the foundation lacked the legal capacity to institute the suit.

The judge also described the application as speculative and lacking sufficient merit, noting that the foundation failed to produce the original police investigation report to support its claim that the earlier investigation was inadequate.

Justice Omotosho further cautioned lawyers handling ongoing cases against discussing matters before the court during media interviews or on social media, describing such conduct as professional misconduct.

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