The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has officially commenced a nationwide five-day warning strike today, intensifying its face-off with the Federal Government over issues of unpaid allowances, salary arrears, and unresolved welfare demands.
The decision follows what the doctors described as consistent neglect of their grievances, despite repeated ultimatums and extensions granted to the government. Resident doctors remain central to Nigeria’s health sector, as they constitute the bulk of healthcare providers across federal and state hospitals. Their withdrawal of services is expected to paralyse health facilities nationwide.
In a circular titled “Declaration of strike action” and signed by the NARD Secretary-General, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, the association confirmed that the strike commenced at 8:00 am on Friday.
“Good morning, NEC Members, thank you all for your continued cooperation and understanding. As clearly stated in our earlier communique, the strike is scheduled to commence at 8:00 am today (Friday). All Centre leadership is expected to guide their members accordingly. Further updates will be communicated to NEC members in due course,” Odunbaku stated.
The unresolved grievances include non-payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, five months’ arrears from the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, as well as outstanding specialist and hazard allowances.
The decision was reached after a six-hour virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting. NARD had previously given the Federal Government a 21-day deadline in July 2025, later extended by 10 days, which lapsed on September 10. A final 24-hour ultimatum also expired on Thursday, September 11, without any meaningful response from authorities.
The doctors said the government’s failure to meet their demands left them with “no choice but to proceed with industrial action.”
okay.ng reports that the association’s strike is expected to worsen the strain on Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare delivery system, with patients left stranded and hospitals struggling to cope.
