The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced that its members across the country will embark on an indefinite nationwide strike beginning Friday, November 1, 2025, following what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to address lingering issues affecting doctors’ welfare and training.
NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, disclosed this in a statement issued after the association’s National Executive 6Council (NEC) emergency virtual meeting held on Saturday.
“The NEC of NARD has declared a total and indefinite strike starting November 1st, 2025. As a matter of fact, the NEC said all the 19 points are our minimum demands, and there is no going back,” Suleiman said.
“The notice for the strike will be out later today or tomorrow,” he added.
The strike decision follows the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier issued to the government on September 26, during which NARD demanded immediate action on a wide range of unresolved issues affecting resident doctors and other medical officers in public hospitals.
The doctors accused the government of insincerity and neglect, particularly in addressing unpaid salary arrears, promotion delays, and poor working conditions.
Doctors list 19 grievances among the major demands are:payment of outstanding arrears from the 25 and 35 percent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Immediate reinstatement of five resident doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja.
Settlement of promotion arrears owed to medical officers in various federal hospitals.
Payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance, which NARD said the government had repeatedly promised but failed to release.
An end to bureaucratic delays in upgrading resident doctors’ ranks after postgraduate medical examinations.
Inclusion of resident doctors in the specialist allowance, which they say has been unjustly denied.
The association also condemned the downgrading of newly employed doctors from CONMESS 3 Step 3 to CONMESS 2 Step 2, describing it as a deliberate attempt to shortchange young professionals.
With resident doctors forming the backbone of Nigeria’s clinical workforce, the planned strike is expected to paralyse services in public hospitals nationwide, including federal teaching hospitals, medical centres, and specialist facilities.
Health observers warn that the industrial action could lead to severe disruption in patient care, especially in emergency, surgical, and maternal health units.
The association further expressed concern over the exclusion of medical and dental house officers from the civil service structure — a policy it said undermines their career progression and financial stability.
“It is unacceptable that the same doctors who sacrifice daily to keep the healthcare system functional are treated with such disregard,” Dr. Suleiman said.
He urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to avert a total collapse of medical services across the country, stressing that NARD members are no longer willing to tolerate “empty promises and prolonged negotiations.”
The latest decision marks yet another confrontation between NARD and the Federal Government, following a series of strikes in recent years over similar issues of unpaid entitlements, poor working tools, and mass brain drain in the sector.
Observers say the government’s response in the coming days will determine whether the indefinite strike proceeds — or if Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system will once again be thrown into crisis.
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