Nigeria’s National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a proposed national policy that would limit the initial engagement of temporary healthcare personnel, including locum doctors, to six months.
file picture of NARD, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim.
Under the proposed National Policy on the Engagement of Locum, a temporary contract could be renewed only once for another six months. Where a worker is continuously engaged for 12 months, the position would become eligible for permanent appointment.
NARD said the policy was developed following extensive consultations by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s Committee on Regulation and Casualization of Doctors, with the aim of establishing fairer and less exploitative conditions for temporary healthcare personnel.
The proposed framework would also introduce a 48-hour maximum working week for healthcare personnel, including weekends. Any authorised work beyond the limit would have to be properly documented and compensated or offset through structured time off.
Workers would also be prohibited from working beyond 24 consecutive hours, including call duty. The policy provides for at least 12 hours of rest between regular shifts and a mandatory 24-hour rest period after weekday, weekend and public-holiday calls.
Call duties would be limited to two per week and one weekend call per month, with hospitals expected to distribute them equitably among eligible personnel.
The framework also provides for a minimum one-hour break after six hours of continuous work, while day shifts would be limited to eight hours and afternoon shifts to six hours. Shifts exceeding 12 hours would only be permitted in emergency situations.
On remuneration, the proposed policy seeks to standardise payments for locum personnel in line with the government’s Scheme of Service. Temporary healthcare workers would be paid monthly, receive payslips and have access to approved leave, public holidays and occupational insurance coverage.
Healthcare institutions would also be prohibited from using locum arrangements as a permanent substitute for substantive recruitment or as a means of exploiting temporary workers.
The proposed rules require hospitals to provide locum personnel with appropriate orientation and integration into their teams, as well as safe working conditions, adequate call rooms and refreshments during prolonged shifts or calls.
The policy further provides that either party could terminate a locum contract with one month’s notice or payment in lieu, while outstanding entitlements would have to be settled within 14 days of termination.
NARD said the framework was informed by concerns over the recruitment and treatment of temporary healthcare personnel and is intended to establish clearer standards for their employment, working hours, remuneration and welfare.
The association said the proposed policy would also require the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to monitor compliance and prevent institutions from using temporary appointments in ways that undermine permanent staffing.
According to NARD, the policy is expected to become legally binding after approval by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, while the association also expressed hope that the National Council on Health would approve the framework.
The development comes alongside separate work-hour recommendations announced by NARD, which the association said had been forwarded to medical directors and chief medical directors for implementation across health institutions.
NARD said the proposed locum policy is part of its broader effort to address the working conditions and welfare of doctors and other healthcare personnel, while establishing clearer rules for hospitals that rely on temporary staff.
