Patients across Nigeria experienced relief on Tuesday after the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) suspended its planned nationwide strike, allowing hospital services to continue uninterrupted.
The association had earlier threatened to begin 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 on Tuesday, NARD announced that it had decided to suspend the strike and instead give the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to address the issues raised by its members.
The statement, jointly signed by the association’s President, Dr Muhammed Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim, said the decision followed deliberations by its National Executive Council (NEC).
“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.
The association said the suspension was based on “cautious optimism” that the government would take concrete steps to resolve the grievances of resident doctors.
Despite the temporary reprieve, NARD stressed that several critical issues remain unresolved and must be addressed within the two-week window.
These include delays in promotions 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 reiterated its demand for the immediate reversal of the Federal Government’s decision to halt the implementation of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table.
NARD warned that failure by the government to resolve the issues within the two-week ultimatum would lead to the immediate resumption of the suspended strike without further notice.
While urging its members across the country to remain calm and united, the association noted that the patience of its members should not be taken for granted.
“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.
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