The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja has barred the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and its members from proceeding with a strike scheduled for January 12.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim issued the order on Friday, following an ex-parte motion filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in suit number NICN/ABJ/06/2026.
The judge considered submissions from the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru, who represented the government, and reviewed supporting documents and court rules cited. Justice Subilim said he was satisfied that the motion was meritorious and warranted an interim injunction.
He granted an interim order restraining NARD, its National President Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleman, Secretary General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, their members, agents, and anyone acting on their behalf from initiating any form of industrial action, including strikes, work stoppages, go-slows, picketing, or other protests, starting from January 12, 2026.
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The order will remain in force pending the hearing of the motion on notice, scheduled for January 21, 2026. The claimants are required to serve the defendants with the order within seven days, and NARD may apply to vary or discharge it within seven days of service.
NARD had earlier announced its intention to resume a “total, indefinite, and comprehensive strike” over what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement agreed resolutions. The decision followed an emergency virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (E-NEC) on January 2.
According to the association, all centre presidents across its 91 accredited centres were directed to convene congress meetings and brief the media on the planned industrial action within seven days.
The strike, NARD said, would start with centre-based demonstrations from January 12 to 16, followed by regional protests led by caucus leaders, and culminate in a nationwide protest coordinated by the National Officers Committee (NOC).
The association stated that it would only suspend the industrial action after the government fully met its minimum demands, including the reinstatement of five resident doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears.
