Hope Ajayi 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has proposed a maximum 48-hour work week for healthcare personnel as part of efforts to reduce burnout, improve staff welfare and enhance patient safety across Nigerian hospitals.
The proposal also recommends limiting continuous duty to 24 hours.
The recommendations followed a nationwide assessment conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s Ministerial Committee on Work Hour Regulation and Casualisation of Doctors, which surveyed 6,350 healthcare workers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to NARD, the assessment identified excessive work hours, fatigue, inadequate rest and burnout as major challenges affecting healthcare delivery.
Under the proposed framework, healthcare workers would be limited to two call duties per week, with only one weekend call permitted each month.
The association also recommended a minimum 12-hour rest period between regular shifts and a compulsory 24-hour rest period after weekday, weekend or public holiday calls.
NARD further proposed that normal day shifts should not exceed eight hours, while afternoon shifts should be limited to six hours. Healthcare workers would also be entitled to at least one hour of rest after six consecutive hours of work.
According to the association, any authorised work beyond the 48-hour weekly threshold should be properly documented and compensated or converted into structured time off.
The recommendations have been forwarded to Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors nationwide for implementation.
NARD urged hospital managements to comply with the proposed guidelines while encouraging doctors to report violations through appropriate institutional channels.
The association, however, noted that hospitals could make temporary adjustments during genuine emergencies where longer working hours become necessary to protect patients and maintain essential services.
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Mirian Gom 
Oluwatobi Adu 
