National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has launched an indefinite, nationwide strike, halting medical services across public hospitals.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement released on Saturday, Muhammad Suleiman, president of the association, said the industrial action followed the federal government’s persistent failure to meet the doctors’ long-standing demands despite multiple negotiations and warnings.
He explained that the decision came after a five-hour meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) last week, during which members unanimously resolved to proceed with a “total and comprehensive” strike.
Suleiman said, “However, 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.”
The association’s key demands include payment of salary arrears, improved welfare and working conditions, recruitment of more clinical staff, and the provision of essential medical equipment.
It also seeks a 200 percent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), full implementation of new allowances proposed in July 2022, and the elimination of bureaucratic delays in replacing exiting doctors.
The association added, “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.”
NARD stressed that the strike is aimed at ensuring a fair and sustainable healthcare environment, not personal benefit. The group said overworked and underpaid doctors cannot provide quality care, warning that neglecting the welfare of medical professionals will continue to endanger patients and weaken the nation’s healthcare system.
Suleiman noted that the association had previously given the federal government a 30-day ultimatum to resolve the outstanding issues.
He expressed regret over the disruption of medical services but said the action was necessary to secure the future of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Suleiman said, “This is not a fight against the government, but a call for a functional, just, and humane healthcare system”, urging Nigerians, labour unions, civil society, and religious leaders to support their cause and press the government to act responsibly.
