National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has warned that it may resume a nationwide strike despite a court order restraining it members.
Gatekeepers News reports that NARD cited Federal Government’s failure to fully implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed to address the welfare and professional needs of resident doctors for the reason of the threatened strikes
Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, on Friday, issued an order barring NARD and its members from going on strike, which had been scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026. The order followed a motion filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, NARD University of Port Harcourt President, Dr. Ezinne Kalu, said the union had suspended a strike in November 2025 in good faith, trusting the government would implement the MoU.
She said, “We had suspended our strike November last year with the agreement that the MoU that is being signed by NARD was going to be implemented by the federal government. Unfortunately, it’s not been implemented.”
Dr. Kalu explained that the National Executive Council (E-NEC) met on January 2, 2026, to review compliance with the agreement and issued a communiqué signed by NARD’s national leadership, highlighting persistent challenges.
These included delayed salary arrears and promotions, partial implementation of the Professional Allowance Table, ambiguous entry-level placements, exclusion from Specialist Allowances, and delayed House Officers’ salaries.
Other concerns raised were stalled Collective Bargaining Agreements, poor infrastructure and equipment, unpaid allowances, and slow progress on previously agreed demands.
The council called on the government to reinstate five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, settle all arrears, fully implement the Professional Allowance Table, pay Specialist Allowances, and clarify entry-level placements. It warned that failure to act would force NARD to resume its previously suspended indefinite strike from 12:00 a.m. on January 12, 2026.
NARD also directed members across the nation’s 91 tertiary health institutions to withdraw services completely and indefinitely until the government demonstrates tangible commitment to resolving the issues. The union added that coordinated peaceful protests would begin if the federal government fails to respond.
The council acknowledged government officials who have engaged with the union, including Didi Esther Wilson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Senator Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health; Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment; and Chief Wale Edun, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance.
The development highlights ongoing tensions between resident doctors and the Federal Government over the implementation of agreements intended to improve conditions in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
