The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has suspended its indefinite strike after 29 days of industrial action.
The strike, which began on November 1, 2025, was suspended following deliberations at an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday.
The Secretary-General of NARD, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with our correspondent.
About 11,000 resident doctors in 91 teaching hospitals had downed tools over poor working conditions and unpaid allowances, leaving many tertiary health facilities operating skeletal services.
Ibrahim said the suspension followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government, anchored on seven key conditions presented by the association.
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The conditions include the reinstatement of the Lokoja doctors, the release of the Professional Allowance Table, payment of promotion arrears, payment of salary arrears in specific hospitals, implementation of an upgrade for doctors who passed Part I exams and met entry-level requirements, implementation of the specialist allowance, and resolution of the Membership Certificate issue.
He said, “The strike was suspended following the Memorandum of Understanding we signed with the Federal Government regarding the seven conditions we would consider before suspending the strike.”
According to him, two of the seven demands have already been met, while the remaining five are expected to be fulfilled within four weeks, in line with the MoU.
“The Professional Allowance Table has been released, and a directive has been given to the Head of Service that the entry level for doctors should be CONMESS 3. So, the strike has been suspended immediately,” he added.
However, Ibrahim stressed that the association would not hesitate to resume the industrial action if the Federal Government fails to meet the remaining demands within the agreed timeframe.
“If the remaining demands are not met before the agreed timeline, we will resume the strike,” he warned.
