The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike earlier scheduled to commence on Monday, January 12, following the intervention of Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The decision brought temporary relief to patients and public hospitals across the country, as the association had earlier threatened to down tools over what it described as the Federal Government’s persistent failure to meet its demands.
Naijaonpoint reports that the resident doctors had cited several unresolved issues, including the non-payment of promotion and salary arrears, delay in the resumption and timely completion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement process, absence of a clear policy on skipping and entry level for chief executives, as well as the failure to fully implement previous agreements reached with the government.
The looming strike had raised concerns over the already fragile state of healthcare delivery in public hospitals nationwide.
The strike suspension came amid legal action by the Federal Government. The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja had earlier restrained the association and two of its officials from embarking on any form of industrial action from January 12, 2026.
Justice E. D. Subilim granted the interim injunction in a suit marked NICN/ABJ/06/2026, filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation against NARD.
Confirming the development, the President of NARD, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, told Daily Trust that the decision to suspend the strike followed direct engagement by the vice president.
“We have suspended the planned strike action for tomorrow because of the intervention of the vice president. The vice president called and entered the matter, and a few of our issues have been sorted out,” Suleiman said.
Suleiman disclosed that Vice President Shettima requested additional time to address the remaining concerns raised by the doctors, a request that was approved by the association’s National Executive Council.
“So, he has asked for more time to sort out the other issues, and the NEC has graciously given him the time,” he added.
The NARD president assured members and the general public that more details would be made available in due course, stressing that the planned industrial action would no longer hold.
“A more detailed communication will come up. But the strike is not holding on Monday,” Suleiman said.
While the suspension offers temporary respite, many observers note that lasting industrial peace will depend on how quickly and effectively the government resolves the outstanding demands of the resident doctors.