NARD PROPOSES 48-HOUR WEEKLY WORK LIMIT, 24-HOUR MAXIMUM DUTY FOR HEALTH WORKERS

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has proposed new working-hour standards aimed at reducing excessive workloads and improving the welfare of healthcare personnel across the country.

Under the proposed framework, healthcare workers would be limited to a maximum of 48 working hours each week, including weekends, while continuous duty would not exceed 24 hours.

The recommendations followed discussions by the Ministerial Committee on Work Hour Regulation and Casualization of Doctors, established by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

NARD disclosed the recommendations in an update issued on Sunday and signed by its Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim.

According to the association, the committee carried out a nationwide assessment involving 6,350 healthcare workers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The exercise, it said, highlighted concerns over prolonged working hours, fatigue, burnout and insufficient rest among healthcare professionals, with possible implications for patient safety and quality of care.

The proposed regulations stipulate that healthcare personnel should not work beyond 48 hours in a week, including weekends. Where additional hours are officially authorised, the affected workers would be entitled to appropriate compensation.

The framework also recommends an eight-hour maximum for day shifts and six hours for afternoon shifts.

However, shifts extending beyond 12 hours would only be allowed under emergency circumstances.

NARD further recommended that healthcare workers should undertake no more than two call duties in a week, including weekend calls.

Under the proposal, workers would also be restricted to a maximum of one weekend call each month.

The association proposed an absolute ceiling of 24 consecutive hours for any duty period, including call responsibilities.

To ensure adequate recovery time, the guidelines recommend at least 12 hours of rest between normal shifts.

Healthcare personnel who complete weekday, Saturday, Sunday or public holiday calls would also be entitled to a mandatory 24-hour rest period after completing their call duty.