The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to resume its suspended nationwide industrial action on January 12, 2026, citing unfulfilled demands by the Federal Government.
The association warned that its members would return to full-scale protests and service withdrawal if the government fails to implement its longstanding demands.
The decision followed an expanded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on January 2, 2026. Members were briefed via NARD’s official X platform, where President Dr Muhammad Suleiman addressed medical and dental trainees and endorsed the resolutions on behalf of the National Officers Committee (NOC).
Dr Suleiman unveiled a renewed action plan tagged TICS 2.0 with the slogan: “No Implementation, No Going Back.” The plan sets the resumption of industrial action at 12:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12, unless all minimum demands are met.
The NEC emphasised that the suspension of TICS 2.0 would only be considered after full implementation of nine minimum demands. These include the reinstatement of five doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears; and full implementation of the professional allowance table, with arrears captured in the 2026 budget.
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Other demands are official clarification on skipping and entry-level placement issues by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; reintroduction and implementation of the Specialist Allowance; resolution of house officers’ salary delays with formal pay advisories; re-categorisation of membership certificates and issuance after Part I by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria; commencement of locum and work-hours regulation committees; and timely conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement process.
NARD said the one-week window before resumption is intended to allow proper congress meetings, media engagement, and statutory notifications to security agencies, including the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as hospital managements nationwide.
The NOC assured members of full alignment with NEC directives and pledged intensified engagement with relevant authorities in the coming days.
To prepare, NEC-directed presidents of all 91 NARD centres will hold congress meetings and follow up with press briefings to explain grievances and resolutions to the public. The association said the aim is to dominate public discourse on doctors’ welfare in the next seven days.
Additionally, NEC approved centre-based protests from January 12 to 16, 2026, followed by regional protests coordinated by caucus leaders, culminating in a national protest organised by the NOC.
NARD urged doctors to remain calm, united, and focused as it enters what it described as a decisive phase in the struggle for improved welfare and a more functional health system.
