Fatimah Otunsanya
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has suspended its 29-day nationwide strike after the Federal Government met part of its demands.
However, the union warned that it would resume industrial action if the remaining conditions are not fulfilled within the agreed timeline.
The Secretary-General of NARD, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, told our correspondents that the strike, which began on November 1, 2025, was suspended following deliberations at an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday.
“The strike was suspended following the Memorandum of Understanding we signed with the Federal Government regarding the seven conditions we would consider before suspending the strike. Two of the seven demands have been met, and the remaining five are to be met within four weeks, according to the MoU signed. The Professional Allowance Table has been released, and a directive has been given to the Head of Service that the entry level for doctors should be CONMESS three. So, the strike has been suspended immediately,” he said.
However, Shuaibu emphasized that the association will not hesitate to resume industrial action if the Federal Government fails to meet the remaining demands within the agreed timeframe.
“If the remaining demands are not met before the agreed timeline, we will resume the strike,” he warned.
Health services were severely disrupted nationwide during the strike, as about 11,000 resident doctors across 91 teaching hospitals withdrew their services in protest over poor working conditions and unpaid allowances.
The association had set the conditions required to suspend the strike. These include the reinstatement of the Lokoja doctors, the release of the Professional Allowance Table, the payment of promotion and salary arrears in specific hospitals, the implementation of an upgrade for doctors who passed Part I exams and entry-level requirements, the implementation of a specialist allowance, and the resolution of the Membership Certificate issue.