Samuel Omang
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its five-day warning strike just two days after it began, granting the Federal Government a fresh two-week ultimatum to fulfil outstanding demands.
The strike, which commenced on Friday, had paralysed services in many public hospitals across the country. Consultants and other health workers were left to handle the heavy patient load, causing delays and disruptions in service delivery.
In a message to members on Saturday night, NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, said the decision to suspend the action was taken “as a sign of goodwill” to ease the suffering of Nigerians seeking healthcare. He explained that some of the association’s demands had already been met, while the government had promised to look into the remaining issues.
NARD had issued a series of ultimatums to the government before downing tools, including a 21-day notice in July that was later extended by 10 days and expired on September 10. That was followed by a final 24-hour deadline before the strike commenced.
The resident doctors are demanding the immediate payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund and the settlement of five months’ arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review. They are also insisting on the payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, the prompt disbursement of specialist allowances, and the recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Other issues on the table include the implementation of the 2024 CONMESS structure, the issuance of postgraduate membership certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, and the resolution of lingering welfare problems in states such as Kaduna and Oyo, particularly at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
In a communiqué issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting held virtually, NARD confirmed that the government had already begun payment of the Residency Training Fund to members who had been left out earlier. The communiqué, signed by Dr. Osundara, the General Secretary, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, and the Publicity Secretary, Dr. Omoha Amobi, stated that the suspension of the strike would take effect from 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2025. It explained that the decision was taken to allow the government a two-week window to fully implement the association’s demands, while also considering the plight of Nigerians who are already struggling under the harsh economic climate.
NARD further called on the Oyo State Government to comply with a 15-day ultimatum earlier issued by the Nigerian Medical Association in the state to address grievances at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, warning that failure to act would force its members in the state to embark on an indefinite solidarity strike. The association also urged other state governments to resolve outstanding welfare issues affecting doctors, stressing that members in state-owned hospitals could continue their own industrial actions until credible commitments were made.
While reiterating its commitment to dialogue, NARD warned that it would not hesitate to resume strike action if the government failed to meet its promises. The association said it remains committed to working with federal and state authorities to ensure better healthcare delivery for Nigerians.