By Ireti Asemota.
Nigeria’s healthcare sector is facing widespread disruptions as approximately 11,000 members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) officially commenced an indefinite nationwide strike today.
The industrial action, which began at midnight on Saturday, will affect 91 healthcare facilities across the country, including Federal Medical Centres, teaching hospitals, and specialist institutions, as well as private healthcare providers.
NARD leaders, President Dr. Muhammad Suleiman and Secretary-General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, confirmed the strike, citing unresolved issues such as inadequate compensation, staff shortages, unpaid allowances, and poor working conditions.
Dr. Suleiman emphasized that despite ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Finance to address some financial concerns, these efforts do not fully meet the association’s demands. “Our members have resolved to move forward with the strike,” he said.
The strike follows the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum issued by NARD after an emergency national executive council meeting. The doctors’ demands include immediate payment of 25-35% of outstanding salary arrears, reinstatement of five resident doctors dismissed by the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja, and the creation of an internationally-standardized working-hours policy to ensure both doctor and patient safety.
NARD is also calling for the urgent recruitment of additional doctors to ease workloads, improved healthcare infrastructure, and the timely payment of specialist allowances. Furthermore, the association demands the full integration of junior doctors into the public service salary structure and resolution of entry-level placements for house officers.
Abuja Doctors Stand in Solidarity with National Strike
In a related development, the Association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA) has also announced it will join the nationwide strike, starting at midnight on Saturday. The ARD-FCTA represents doctors working in 14 district and general hospitals under the FCTA.
While the FCTA doctors are joining the strike in solidarity with NARD, they have made it clear that their strike will continue independently even if NARD calls off its action. The ARD-FCTA is pressing for the immediate payment of outstanding salary arrears for doctors employed since 2023, new recruitment commitments with clear timelines, and payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for doctors.
Other key demands from the ARD-FCTA include the resolution of irregular salary payments, immediate finalization of the skipping and conversion process, and an overhaul of healthcare facilities under the FCTA to meet international standards. They also call for the payment of hazard allowances, wage award arrears, and the clearing of all outstanding dues for 2025 external residents.
As the strike progresses, concerns are mounting about the growing strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly in public hospitals where resident doctors make up the majority of medical staff. The ongoing strike threatens to further exacerbate the already fragile state of healthcare delivery across the country.
