Resident doctors on Tuesday called off their planned nationwide strike.
The doctors under the umbrella of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors were set to begin an indefinite industrial action on Tuesday over delayed salaries, unpaid allowances, and other welfare concerns affecting its members.
However, following high-level government interventions, including engagements by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, NARD, on Tuesday morning, announced it was suspending the strike, giving the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to resolve outstanding issues.
In a joint statement signed by NARD President, Dr Muhammed Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim, the association said the decision followed extensive deliberations by its National Executive Council.
The statement expressed “cautious optimism,” noting that the government’s engagement signalled a renewed commitment to addressing resident doctors’ welfare concerns.
The statement read, “The NEC, in recognition of the ongoing high-level interventions and as a demonstration of goodwill, hereby suspends the previously declared total, indefinite, and comprehensive strike action.”
However, NARD warned that unresolved issues, including delayed promotion and salary arrears, non-disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, backlog of 19 months’ unpaid professional allowances, and the halted implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table, must be addressed within the two-week ultimatum.
NARD also reiterated its demand for the immediate reversal of the Federal Government’s decision to halt the implementation of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table, which has been a major source of contention.
The association stressed that the Federal Government must take “concrete, measurable, and verifiable steps” within the two-week ultimatum to address all outstanding demands.
It warned that failure to meet these conditions would lead to the immediate resumption of the suspended strike without further notice.
NARD, however, urged members nationwide to remain calm, united, and resolute while awaiting the Federal Government’s response, emphasising that the patience of its members is limited.
“The NEC shall reconvene immediately upon expiration of the ultimatum to review the level of compliance and determine further appropriate actions in the best interest of its members,” the statement added.
