Resident Doctors Supend Planned Strike
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike after fresh assurances from the federal government on key welfare demands.
The decision was reached at a virtual emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting on April 25.
It would be recalled that the doctors had initially embarked on a strike on April 7, but suspended the industrial action the same day, giving the government two weeks to meet their demands.
In a communique issued at the end of its latest NEC meeting, NARD said it reviewed interventions by top government officials and agencies, including the vice-president, ministers of health, labour, and finance, as well as the budget office and the office of the accountant-general of the federation.
Among its key observations, NARD noted that the earlier decision to halt the implementation of the reviewed professional allowance table (PAT) has been reversed, with implementation expected to reflect in April salaries and beyond.
It also acknowledged that “the Federal Government has renewed its commitment to the payment of all outstanding promotion arrears and salary arrears owed to resident doctors in affected institutions”.
The NEC further observed that “initial approval has been secured for the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), with a firm commitment to conclude and finalise the disbursement process”, adding that the budget office had indicated readiness to begin payment of “the outstanding nineteen (19) months’ arrears of the Professional Allowance.”
However, the association raised concerns over delays affecting a category of doctors and the continued delay in the payment of house officers’ salaries.
Following its deliberations, the NEC issued a series of demands, including the sustained implementation of the reviewed professional allowance table (PAT) as currently reflected in the April salary and in subsequent months, and the prompt payment of all outstanding promotion arrears and salary arrears owed to resident doctors in affected institutions.
It also called for “the expedited conclusion and full disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF)”, and “the immediate commencement and timely completion of the process for the payment of the outstanding nineteen (19) months’ arrears of the Professional Allowance”.
NARD also demanded the convening of an urgent stakeholders’ meeting to address and bring to a definitive resolution the persistent delay in the payment of house officers’ salaries.
“In light of the above developments, the NEC resolves to suspend the proposed Total, Indefinite, and Comprehensive Strike action, with a review of progress to be undertaken at the May Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) in Kano,” the communique reads.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
