Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Veteran politician Atiku Abubakar has escalated the standoff between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), publicly backing a planned indefinite nationwide doctors’ strike and sharply accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of betraying previously agreed commitments on professional allowances and welfare entitlements. The unfolding dispute threatens to disrupt public health services across Nigeria when the strike begins at midnight on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
The latest chapter in a protracted struggle between government authorities and resident doctors over compensation and working conditions centres on the Professional Allowance Table (PAT) — a structured framework for doctors’ allowances that was negotiated after earlier industrial action in 2025 but has now become the focal point for fresh unrest. During a statement shared on his social media platform, Atiku warned the government that rescinding or stalling implementation of the agreement is tantamount to a breach of trust with frontline health workers, whom he described as critical to a health system already under severe strain.
“The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors should not have to beg for what has already been agreed upon,” Atiku declared. “The Federal Government signed a deal on the Professional Allowance Table, and now it wants to abandon it. This is not governance; it is betrayal.” He expressed solidarity with the doctors and called on the government to honour all commitments to avert a shutdown of services in hospitals nationwide.
According to union leaders, the dispute erupted after federal authorities sought to discontinue the implementation of the PAT from April 2026, less than two months after it was introduced in February. The allowances under the revised table were intended to enhance remuneration for resident doctors through improved call duty rates, shift payments, rural posting incentives and other compensatory elements designed to reflect the demanding nature of their work.
NARD’s announcement of a “total and comprehensive industrial action” followed an Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, April 4, where members voiced profound dissatisfaction with the government’s decision and adopted the strike directive. In addition to calling for the immediate reinstatement of the PAT, the association has demanded the swift payment of promotion and salary arrears owed to doctors across various federal health institutions, and the timely release of funds for the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
A particularly contentious issue is the outstanding arrears of professional allowances stretching back 19 months, which doctors say have worsened their financial hardship and eroded trust in government assurances. The union emphasised that these arrears remain a heavy burden, undermining morale and fuelling frustration within the profession.
Health sector analysts warn that if the strike proceeds as planned and remains prolonged, it could severely disrupt public healthcare delivery in state and federal hospitals where resident doctors play a central role. These doctors — medical practitioners undergoing specialist training — typically handle a large share of clinical duties, including emergency care, surgeries and routine patient management. Their absence could lead to delays in critical procedures, increased pressure on senior consultants and private health facilities, and heightened distress for patients who rely on affordable public services.
Healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria has long grappled with resource constraints, overcrowding and personnel shortages. Previous industrial actions by NARD have drawn attention to these systemic challenges and the precarious conditions under which many doctors operate. Last year’s nationwide strike lasted nearly a month before a negotiated suspension, but similar disagreements have recurred, underscoring persistent friction over compensation, allowances and working conditions.
Government representatives have countered some of the union’s claims by noting that an upward review of professional allowances for health workers was approved in late 2025, involving a significant annual sum intended to bolster the health workforce’s remuneration. Officials have described the current dispute as rooted in broader structural and policy considerations rather than a simple unwillingness to meet demands, and have highlighted the complexity of collective bargaining involving numerous health worker groups.
Nonetheless, NARD insists that core components of the agreement — especially the PAT implementation timeline and arrears payments — remain unfulfilled. The association’s leadership has emphasised its readiness to continue dialogue with federal authorities but maintains that tangible commitments must be delivered before it will consider suspending or postponing the strike.
Atiku’s intervention adds a pronounced political dimension to the crisis. As a former vice‑president and seasoned political figure, his vocal criticism of the government’s handling of the dispute is likely to influence public debate and intensify pressure on policymakers to engage with doctors’ demands earnestly. By framing the issue as a test of government credibility and commitment to healthcare, Atiku has underscored the broader stakes involved, not only for the immediate welfare of medical professionals but also for national health outcomes and citizens’ trust in public institutions.
The Federal Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Employment have not yet issued a comprehensive public response to Atiku’s critique or detailed proposals to avert the impending strike, though observers anticipate potential engagement in the coming days to soften the impact on critical services. The coming hours will be pivotal, as the government’s decisions could determine whether hospitals continue operating normally or face significant disruptions when resident doctors commence their industrial action.
With millions of Nigerians dependent on public hospitals for care, the health sector stands at a critical juncture. Patients, families, health experts and policymakers alike are watching closely as tensions rise between government authorities and one of the country’s most influential professional bodies.
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