Okay News reports that the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from November 1, 2025, following the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Federal Government.
NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, disclosed the decision in a statement released on Sunday, noting that the strike was necessitated by the government’s failure to address lingering welfare and professional concerns affecting doctors across federal hospitals.
According to him, the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) reached the resolution after a five-hour emergency meeting held on Saturday.
“The NEC has marshalled out minimum demands, strike monitoring directives, and ‘no work, no pay/no pay, no work’ resolutions needed for a successful execution of this action,” the statement read in part.
Dr. Suleiman emphasized that the strike would begin by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 31, 2025, and would continue indefinitely until all issues are resolved.
He added that the association’s National Officers Committee (NOC) had been directed to enforce strict compliance with the industrial action across all hospitals nationwide.
“We have reported to NEC and NEC has decided. The NOC will carry out this directive to its latter and in full compliance,” he said.
The NARD President also directed centre presidents and general secretaries to convene emergency congress meetings to brief members on the resolutions and ensure unity ahead of the strike.
Dr. Suleiman accused certain government and non-government actors of what he described as “evil and exploitative plans” against resident doctors, stressing that such actions would be collectively resisted.
He advised members to use the remaining days before the strike to hand over patients, sensitize the public, and engage with religious and community leaders to create awareness about their demands.
Okay News reports that the planned industrial action is expected to significantly affect medical services across the country, as resident doctors form the backbone of Nigeria’s clinical workforce.
The association listed its major grievances to include nonpayment of arrears from the 25 and 35 percent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), non-payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance, unjust dismissal of five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and excessive work hours.
Other demands include the payment of promotion arrears, inclusion of medical and dental house officers in the civil service scheme, correction of salary downgrades, and payment of new salary scales to doctors who have completed postgraduate examinations.
NARD further faulted their exclusion from specialist allowances, despite the crucial role resident doctors play in delivering specialist-level care to patients across Nigeria.
As the strike looms, health experts and civic groups have urged both the Federal Government and the association to find a common ground to prevent a total breakdown in healthcare delivery nationwide.
