By Ireti Asemota.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) remains resolute in its nationwide indefinite strike, now in its third week, despite three conciliation meetings yielding agreements on 19 issues. In an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, November 21, 2025, NARD President Dr. Mohammad Suleiman revealed that the National Executive Council (NEC) has distilled its demands to seven priority conditions that must be fully met before any suspension. He accused the Federal Government of failing to implement even basic resolutions, with deadlines expiring without action—labeling the delays a “cycle of unfulfilled promises.”
The strike, which kicked off on November 1, 2025, has paralyzed healthcare services across 91 federal teaching hospitals and medical centers, affecting ~11,000 resident doctors. It escalated on November 15 when the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) joined in solidarity, triggering widespread alarms over patient safety, canceled surgeries, and plummeting hospital revenues (e.g., University College Hospital Ibadan reported near-zero admissions by day 10). Suleiman emphasized: “We agreed on all 19 items… with timelines. But today is Friday—one full week after the deadline—and nothing has been forwarded to the Minister of Finance or Budget Office.”
NARD’s NEC met extraordinarily on November 17 and, per multiple reports, unanimously resolved to press on until minimum demands are verifiably addressed—dismissing the Labour Ministry’s November 19 claim of resolving “a high percentage” of grievances as “misleading” and “deceptive.” The union insists “not a single one” of the 19 core demands has been fully met, with government “progress” limited to uncommenced payments and ad-hoc committees.
The 7 Priority Demands: “Sort These Out, and We’ll Suspend”
Suleiman outlined the streamlined list, all tied to agreed timelines now lapsed:
| Demand | Details | Status (as of Nov. 21) |
|---|---|---|
| Reinstatement of Lokoja Doctors | Immediate recall of five disengaged Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Lokoja doctors victimized for union activities. Deadline: Nov. 20 (two weeks from Nov. 6). | Report not submitted; no action. |
| Release of Professional Allowance Table | Publication and implementation of the table for all resident doctors. | No update; ongoing delay. |
| Payment of Promotion Arrears | Full settlement of owed arrears nationwide. Compilation due last Friday (Nov. 14). | Lists not forwarded to Finance/Budget; 40% of members still unpaid on related 25-35% CONMESS/CONHESS review. |
| Payment of Salary Arrears | Arrears in hospitals like FTH Lokoja, FMC Owo, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. | Compilation incomplete; no remittances via IPPIS. |
| Upgrade for Part I Exam Passers & Entry-Level | Implementation for doctors passing exams; revert entry from CONMESS 2 to 3. Head of Service response due last Friday. | No clarification from Head of Service; letter to Accountant-General pending. |
| Specialist Allowance | Prompt payment for qualified specialists. | Unimplemented; part of broader welfare neglect. |
| Membership Certificate Issue | Resolution of certification delays for residency training. | No progress reported. |
“NEC said when the government sorts these out, we will come back again and suspend this strike,” Suleiman affirmed, adding that only partial payment of the 25-35% allowance (covering ~60% of members) has materialized—far short of full compliance. Issues like the two-week extension for some items expired without results, and the ₦43bn arrears claim by the government was “faulted” by NARD as unsubstantiated.
Broader Fallout: Healthcare on Life Support, Calls for Unity
The dual strikes have crippled services: No surgeries at major centers like UCH Ibadan, low revenues, and diverted emergencies straining private facilities. Patients like those at UCH have been turned away, with one lamenting untreated joint pain. On X, frustration boils—users like @mavxin warn the strike’s outcome will dictate if young doctors “commit to the japa pathway” or stay, while @Acidik_ mocks anti-strike sentiments amid systemic chaos. NARD urges political involvement: “Doctors, get involved in politics… or those lacking insight will dictate healthcare.”
President Tinubu directed resolutions, but NARD rejects an MoU on “unfulfilled promises.” The government claims ₦10.6bn released for 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund and ₦31.3bn for arrears, but NARD calls it “uncommenced.” As the impasse drags, Suleiman’s plea rings clear: “The strike persists until our minimum demands… for a dignified medical practice in Nigeria, are met.”
#NARDStrike #ResidentDoctorsNG #HealthcareCrisis #TinubuHealthReforms
