The National Industrial Court in Abuja has barred the National Association of Resident Doctors from embarking on its planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence on January 12, 2026.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim, on Friday, granted an interim order restraining the association, its national leadership and members from proceeding with the industrial action pending the hearing of a substantive suit.
The ex parte order followed an urgent application filed by the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation, seeking to avert what it described as an imminent disruption of healthcare services across public hospitals.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim specifically restrained NARD, its National President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, and all officials and members of the association from embarking on “any form of industrial action whatsoever,” including strike, work stoppage, picketing, protests or slowdown of services.
The court order came days after the association announced its decision to resume what it described as a “Total, Indefinite and Complete Strike (TICS 2.0)” from midnight on January 12, under the slogan “No Implementation, No Going Back.”
NARD had accused the Federal Government of failing to fully implement a Memorandum of Understanding reached in late November 2025, which led to the suspension of a 29-day strike on November 29, 2025.
Under the agreement, the government reportedly committed to addressing the doctors’ demands within four weeks.
Among the unresolved issues listed by the resident doctors are the reinstatement of five colleagues dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears; and full implementation of the approved professional allowance table, including the capture of arrears in the 2026 budget.
Other demands include the reintroduction and payment of specialist allowances, resolution of delays in house officers’ salaries, clarification on entry-level placement and skipping, timely issuance of membership certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria after Part I examinations, and the establishment of locum and work-hours regulation committees.
The doctors are also pressing for the speedy conclusion of the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations.
Justice Subilim ordered that the interim injunction would remain in force until January 21, 2026, when the court is expected to hear the substantive motion on notice.
The ruling is aimed at preventing an immediate shutdown of public health facilities nationwide while both parties explore avenues for resolving the lingering welfare and industrial disputes involving resident doctors.
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