Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has formally declared plans to resume a nationwide strike and launch coordinated protests starting January 12, 2026, in response to what it describes as the government’s failure to implement agreed welfare and service conditions for medical practitioners.
The decision was confirmed on Saturday, January 3, 2026, following an Extraordinary National Executive Council (E‑NEC) meeting held on January 2, at which leaders of the association resolved to resume Total, Indefinite and Complete Strike (TICS 2.0) from 12:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12. The action has been tagged “No Implementation, No Going Back.”
In a communique signed by Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, president of NARD, the doctors explained that diplomatic engagements and negotiations with the Federal Government yielded no satisfactory results after earlier commitments were not fully met. The association said core demands — including improved welfare, payment of arrears, and resolution of structural career progression issues — remain unresolved despite previous agreements.
Among the central grievances cited by the association are the non‑payment of promotion and salary arrears, failure to fully implement the revised professional allowance table, and unresolved concerns over entry‑level categorisation and career progression for doctors. Under the association’s terms, the strike will continue until all minimum demands are fully implemented by relevant authorities.
To amplify its protest, NARD has called for a series of centre‑based demonstrations at federal and state teaching hospitals from January 12 through January 16, followed by planned regional and national demonstrations coordinated by the association’s National Officers Committee. Authorities have been urged to engage constructively before the strike date to avert service disruption across the country’s healthcare system.
The renewed industrial action comes on the heels of a 29‑day nationwide strike that began on November 1, 2025, which was suspended on November 29 after the Federal Government and NARD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at addressing the doctors’ concerns. However, NARD officials have since said the government’s implementation of that agreement was incomplete, prompting the decision to resume the protest.
Healthcare experts have warned that the impending strike — driven by the critical role resident doctors play in Nigeria’s public health institutions — could impose additional strain on an already fragile health system. Residents and practitioners have expressed concern over the timing, noting that disruption of services could affect patient care, particularly emergency and specialist treatment, across the country.
NARD’s leadership has directed all 91 centre presidents nationwide to convene congress meetings and publicly brief the media within the coming week. The association has emphasised that the strike and demonstrations are intended to safeguard the dignity and welfare of doctors, whose contributions to clinical services and medical training are significant.
As the countdown to January 12 continues, both healthcare stakeholders and government officials are under pressure to find a resolution that restores medical services while ensuring that resident doctors’ concerns are meaningfully addressed. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as of this report, had not publicly issued a formal response to the latest strike notice.
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