The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has commenced a nationwide “total, comprehensive, and indefinite” strike over the Federal Government’s alleged failure to meet its longstanding demands.
NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, announced the decision in a statement on Saturday, following a five-hour National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held last week, where members voted to embark on the industrial action.
“This action has become inevitable, following the repeated failure of the Federal Government of Nigeria to honour its promises and implement the agreements reached with us after several rounds of dialogue, appeals, and ultimata,” Suleiman said.
The association’s demands include fair remuneration, payment of salary arrears, improved working conditions, adequate staffing, and the provision of essential medical infrastructure across public hospitals.
They are also calling for a 200 percent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), full implementation of new allowances proposed in July 2022, immediate recruitment of clinical staff, and the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks that delay the replacement of exiting doctors.
“Our demands are not selfish, neither are they politically motivated. They are genuine, germane, and patriotic — centred on the survival of the Nigerian health system and the well-being of every citizen who depends on it,” the statement added.
“We fight not for personal gain, but for a system that allows resident doctors to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care in an environment that supports their mental and physical well-being.”
Suleiman lamented that excessive workloads and poor motivation directly impact the quality of healthcare services, warning that the system is on the brink of collapse if urgent reforms are not implemented.
“A resident doctor who is overworked, underpaid, and mentally exhausted cannot offer optimal care to the patient who needs them most,” he said.
“If resident doctors are broken, under-motivated, or forced to seek survival abroad, the patients suffer most. This is why we have taken this painful stand — to secure the future of Nigerian healthcare for every man, woman, and child who deserves quality care here at home.”
The NARD president appealed to Nigerians, civil society organisations, labour unions, and traditional and religious leaders to support the doctors’ cause, stressing that the strike is not a confrontation but a “struggle for a functional and humane healthcare system.”
“This is not a fight between resident doctors and government; it is a struggle for a functional, just, and humane healthcare system — one where your doctor can attend to you with a clear mind, a motivated spirit, and access to the tools needed to save lives,” he said.
The association had earlier issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands, but said the decision to proceed with the strike “did not come lightly,” expressing regret for any disruptions to healthcare services.