For years, long shifts, sleepless nights and back-to-back call duties have been part of daily life for many healthcare workers in Nigeria. In some hospitals, doctors move from one emergency to another with little time to rest, raising concerns about burnout, staff welfare and even patient safety.

Now, a proposal emerging from the nation's resident doctors could alter that reality and trigger one of the most significant changes to working conditions in Nigeria’s healthcare system in recent years.

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has unveiled a new framework aimed at reshaping how healthcare personnel work across the country. The proposal, which is currently awaiting approval from the National Council on Health, seeks to establish clearer limits on working hours, improve rest periods and ensure compensation for extra duties performed by medical workers.

The association’s Publicity and Social Secretary, Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, disclosed the details in a statement on Sunday, describing the initiative as part of broader efforts to address growing concerns about the welfare and productivity of healthcare personnel.

According to him, the recommendations were developed after extensive consultations with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and a nationwide assessment involving 6,350 healthcare workers drawn from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The findings, he said, highlighted the need for a more structured and sustainable work environment for medical professionals.

At the heart of the proposal is a plan to regulate working schedules and create safeguards against excessive workloads that many healthcare workers say have become routine.

Under the framework, healthcare personnel would operate within defined weekly work limits, while any additional hours approved by management would attract compensation. The proposal also introduces new guidelines for shift schedules and emergency assignments, with restrictions aimed at preventing excessive fatigue among workers.

NARD believes the reforms could significantly improve the well-being of healthcare professionals while helping hospitals maintain quality patient care.

The proposal also addresses one of the most demanding aspects of hospital work — call duties.

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Rather than allowing unpredictable and often exhausting schedules, the framework seeks to ensure a more balanced distribution of responsibilities among healthcare workers. It also recommends mandatory recovery periods after call duties, a move expected to reduce physical and mental exhaustion among frontline medical staff.

In addition, healthcare personnel would be entitled to scheduled breaks during work hours, while hospitals would be required to organise staffing arrangements in a way that guarantees uninterrupted patient care.

Beyond workload management, the proposed guidelines include provisions for professional development and research activities, recognising the need for healthcare workers to continue advancing their knowledge and specialist training while carrying out clinical responsibilities.

NARD said the framework has already been forwarded to chief medical directors and medical directors across health institutions nationwide.

The association is urging hospital managements and departmental heads to begin aligning their operations with the proposed standards while encouraging its members to monitor compliance and report any violations through established channels.

The doctors’ body also hinted that another policy document targeting the casualisation of healthcare workers and controversial locum employment practices is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

While the proposed reforms have generated interest across the health sector, they are yet to take effect. Their fate now rests with the National Council on Health, whose approval will determine whether the recommendations become a nationwide standard.

For thousands of healthcare workers battling demanding schedules and mounting workplace pressures, that decision could mark a turning point—not only for their welfare, but for the future of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.