Relief as resident doctors suspend strike, give FG two-week ultimatum

Patients and hospital workers across Nigeria breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday after the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) suspended a planned nationwide strike that was expected to disrupt healthcare services.

The association had earlier announced plans to embark on an indefinite industrial action over issues including delayed salaries, unpaid allowances and other welfare concerns affecting its members.

However, the strike was put on hold following last-minute interventions by the Federal Government, including engagements involving 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.

In a statement issued Tuesday morning, NARD said it decided to suspend the action and instead give the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to resolve the outstanding issues.

The statement was jointly signed by the association’s President, Dr Muhammed Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim.

According to the association, the decision was reached after extensive deliberations by its National Executive Council (NEC), which noted the renewed government engagement with the doctors’ demands.

“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,” the statement said.

NARD, however, said several key issues remain unresolved and must be addressed within the two-week window.

These include delays in promotion and payment of salary arrears, the non-disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, a backlog of 19 months of unpaid professional allowances, and the suspension of the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table.

The association also renewed its demand for the immediate restoration of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table, describing its suspension by the government as a major point of contention.

NARD stressed that the Federal Government must take “concrete, measurable and verifiable steps” within the two-week ultimatum to resolve the issues raised.

It warned that failure to meet the demands within the timeframe would lead to the immediate resumption of the suspended strike without further notice.

Despite the warning, the association urged its members across the country to remain calm and united while awaiting the government’s response.

“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.