Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a total and indefinite nationwide strike beginning midnight, Saturday November 1, 2025, following the alleged failure of the Federal Government to meet its outstanding demands despite repeated warnings.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held virtually on Saturday, October 25.
According to the communiqué signed by NARD President, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleiman, and Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, the association accused the government of showing “no political will” to resolve critical issues affecting the welfare of doctors and the stability of the public health system.
The doctors listed among their grievances the non-payment of five months’ arrears from the 25%/35% CONMESS salary review, the non-payment of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance, and the failure to reinstate five doctors allegedly dismissed unjustly.
The group condemned what it described as exploitative working conditions, including prolonged duty hours without rest, lack of manpower replacement, and the increasing casualisation of doctors through locum contracts.
Other complaints include the exclusion of house officers from the civil service scheme, unpaid promotion arrears since 2021, deteriorating hospital infrastructure, and the federal government’s delay in concluding the collective bargaining agreement on salary structure and allowances.
The communiqué further highlighted the non-payment of salaries and allowances in several institutions, such as Federal Medical Centre (Owo), Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, and others.
“After exhaustive deliberations and in light of the federal government’s persistent failure to address our legitimate demands, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors hereby declares a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike,” the communique read.
The association demanded the immediate payment of all arrears and allowances, reinstatement of dismissed members, inclusion of house officers in the civil service, implementation of specialist allowances, and a review of the CONMESS salary structure, among others.
NARD also urged the federal government to enforce humane working-hour policies, upgrade hospital infrastructure, and abolish casual employment of doctors in public health institutions.
While commending the support of stakeholders, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and the Senate Committee on Health, NARD nevertheless maintained that doctors across federal and state tertiary hospitals would withdraw their services completely until the government took decisive action.
The association had in September, have the Federal Government one month to address a series of unresolved issues affecting the welfare and training of resident doctors and medical officers across the country.
