The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its indefinite nationwide strike following a series of conciliatory engagements with the Federal Government that produced a new memorandum of understanding addressing several of the union’s longstanding grievances.
NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, announced the suspension in a post on his X handle on Saturday, confirming that the National Executive Council had voted to call off the industrial action.
“The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has resolved to suspend the ongoing total, indefinite and comprehensive strike action,” he wrote.
Suleiman explained that the decision followed extensive negotiations culminating in the signing of an MoU detailing progress on the association’s 19-point demand. He said although some issues remain outstanding, structured timelines have now been agreed upon to ensure implementation.
Among the unresolved matters is the payment of promotion arrears, which he noted is still being compiled by several chief medical directors and medical directors. The government, however, has committed to clearing the arrears within four weeks.
Regarding salary arrears, Suleiman stated that a similar four-week deadline has been set. He added that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has provided clear directives on the specialist allowance, with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission responsible for execution.
He further disclosed that a designated committee has recommended the full reabsorption of the “Lokoja 5” into the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, with implementation scheduled for completion within two weeks.
Highlights of the new MoU include ongoing processes for the payment of the 25 and 35 per cent allowances, as well as the long-delayed accoutrement allowance.
Resident doctors had commenced the nationwide strike on November 1, protesting what they described as unfair remuneration, unpaid arrears, poor working conditions, inadequate staffing, and the deteriorating state of medical infrastructure. They also cited excessive workloads which they said compromise the quality of healthcare delivery across the country.
Their demands included the immediate release of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of five months’ arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, and clearance of long-outstanding salary and allowance backlogs.
Others were the payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, prompt disbursement of specialist allowances, and reinstatement of recognition for West African postgraduate membership certificates. The association also called for the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to issue certificates to qualified members, full implementation of the 2024 CONMESS, resolution of welfare concerns in Kaduna State, and urgent intervention on the plight of resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
With the suspension of the strike, attention now shifts to timely implementation of the commitments captured in the MoU, a move many hope will avert a resurgence of industrial action and restore stability to Nigeria’s overstretched healthcare system.
