The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called off its 5-day warning strike.
The industrial action, which began on Friday, had left public hospitals struggling to cope as limited health workers tried to manage overwhelming patient numbers.
Announcing the suspension on Saturday night, NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, said, “Some of our demands have been met. The government has promised to look into other issues. Strike suspended; resumption to work tomorrow (today). We did this as a sign of goodwill and to assist Nigerians who are seeking healthcare in our various facilities.”
However, he did not specify which of the demands had already been addressed at the time of his announcement.
The doctors had embarked on the strike to push for several outstanding entitlements, including immediate payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, and clearance of salary backlogs.
They also listed other issues such as unpaid 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, specialist allowance disbursements, and recognition of the West African postgraduate membership certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. In addition, they demanded membership certificates for qualified candidates from the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, implementation of the 2024 Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, resolution of welfare concerns in Kaduna State, and intervention in the situation of resident doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.