The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike following “significant progress” on its demands through sustained engagements with the Federal Government and other stakeholders.
The decision was taken at a virtual Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on January 11, 2026, where the association reviewed the status of its demands and assessed recent developments.
The suspension, the association said, followed direct presidential intervention led by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary-General of NARD, described the suspension as strategic and conditional, allowing the NEC to review tangible progress at its next meeting scheduled for January 25, 2026.
A source familiar with the negotiations confirmed that substantial progress had been made behind the scenes over the past week, prompting a shift in NARD’s stance.
“In the last one week, there has been a lot of progress that has been made. Most of all these developments are at a very high level, at the level of the presidency, in fact,” the source said.
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The source added that tensions had escalated due to the handling of the issues by the Health Ministry leadership, particularly Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, prompting political intervention.
“To emphasize the seriousness of the issue, Minister Pate was called to order and appealed to, in an effort to balance matters,” the source said.
Several stakeholders, including hospital chief executives and senior political actors, were drawn into the talks.
“The Committee of CMDs met him multiple times, and there was intervention from top APC officials. When political undertones and opposition involvement surfaced, APC leadership stepped in to ascertain the facts,” the source explained.
The engagements, the insider added, helped decision-makers gain a clearer understanding of the doctors’ grievances.
“They are trying to get information directly from those at the receiving end of the agitation, the resident doctors,” the source said.
According to the source, the interventions have translated into concrete actions, including directives on outstanding payments.
Explaining the union’s approach, the source noted that industrial action is a means to an end.
“Strike, in the real sense, is not for the purpose of just down-tooling. It’s a tool to achieve specific objectives,” he said.
Despite the progress, NARD leadership faces pressure from members kept largely in the dark about the negotiations.
“We are receiving criticism from members because much of the information remains confidential,” the source said, adding that the situation would improve once results become visible.
“Once they see that issues are being addressed, anomalies corrected, and outstanding payments received, members will appreciate the efforts,” he said.
According to Dr. Ibrahim, the lingering crisis at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, has been resolved following the implementation of an earlier committee report from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
A new reconciliation committee comprising Chief Medical Directors, the Ministry, and NARD has also been constituted to ensure all resident doctors remain at the hospital and to broker lasting peace with the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria at the facility.
On outstanding 25 and 35 percent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears, NARD said verified lists had been forwarded to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), while the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has written to the Ministry of Finance and IPPIS to facilitate payments. Similar progress was reported on accoutrement allowances.
The association said promotion and salary arrears lists had been transmitted by the Health Ministry to the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office, with the Minister of State for Finance acknowledging receipt and engagements ongoing to establish a clear payment plan.
On entry-level placement, NARD said the Director of Hospital Services would liaise with hospital chief executives to reinforce guidance from the Office of the Head of Civil Service recognizing CONMESS 3 as the entry level for doctors.
A multi-stakeholder committee comprising the Health Ministry, Chief Medical Directors, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and NARD has been set up to address locum practice and work-hour regulations, with preliminary activities already underway.
Concrete steps are also being taken toward full implementation of specialist allowances.
On house officers’ welfare, NARD said the Ministry of Labour had intervened, while the Health Ministry would engage the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and IPPIS on salary delays and arrears.
The NEC noted progress on membership re-categorisation, professional allowance implementation, and efforts to ensure federal salary and allowance gains are reflected in state and private health facilities.
Based on firm commitments from key stakeholders—including the Ministries of Health, Labour, and Finance, the Office of the Head of Civil Service, IPPIS, the Budget Office, the National Assembly, the Department of State Services, and the Vice President—NARD unanimously resolved to suspend the resumption of its planned strike action, tagged TICS 2.0.
