Resident Doctors Threaten Strike Over Widespread Hospital Attacks
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has threatened a fresh nationwide strike unless the federal government halts a surge in violence against healthcare workers. The union issued the warning on Monday, following a pattern of physical assaults, intimidation, and harassment inside public hospitals. The group represents roughly 40% of the country’s medical doctors. The leadership demands an immediate presidential executive order to mandate the swift prosecution of those who attack staff or invade medical facilities. The strike threat could paralyse public tertiary healthcare delivery by the end of the month.
The doctor’s ultimatum expires at the end of their ordinary general meeting in May. The union wants strict hospital protection policies and adequate security personnel deployed across all health institutions. The doctors are also demanding financial compensation for victims who suffer injuries or lose personal property during these raids. Union leaders stated that their national officers would no longer guarantee industrial peace if the state failed to take decisive steps. The group expects clear, visible interventions before the regional meeting concludes.
The threat of a shutdown follows a long list of violent encounters in major federal and state teaching hospitals. The union identified more than a dozen affected facilities, including the University College Hospital in Ibadan, the National Hospital in Abuja, and teaching hospitals in Enugu, Ilorin, and Sokoto. The leadership noted that these attacks are no longer isolated incidents. They have become a routine hazard for frontline staff. The union noted that over 90% of the victims are junior resident doctors.
The medical association blames local authorities for fostering a culture of impunity within public wards. Hospital administrations regularly resolve violent disputes by forcing doctors to accept simple letters of apology instead of pursuing criminal prosecution. Even when local police make arrests, the state rarely follows through with formal court trials. This systemic failure of justice has emboldened both civilian hoodlums and armed security personnel to terrorise hospital staff. The lack of legal consequences leaves doctors feeling exposed and abandoned by their employers.
The worsening safety conditions inside Nigerian hospitals are accelerating an existing manpower crisis. Junior doctors already face severe professional burnout, poor state remuneration, and chronic equipment shortages. This latest wave of physical insecurity will inevitably convince more medical practitioners to pack their bags and emigrate. The country has lost thousands of doctors to Europe and the Middle East over the last decade. Wards are understaffed, and the remaining doctors must cope with long hours and angry, frustrated patients.
The union called on federal and state governments, security agencies, and the National Assembly to treat hospital violence as a national emergency. Striking at this moment would severely disrupt public health infrastructure. The association previously suspended a pay dispute strike in April to give the state time to implement salary agreements. By adding physical safety to their list of demands, the doctors have raised the stakes. If the government ignores the warning, patients will pay the price.