Resident Doctors Suspend Nationwide Strike After FG Concedes

 

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned indefinite nationwide strike following renewed commitments by the Federal Government to address key welfare demands, including the reinstatement of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table (PAT).

The decision was reached at an emergency virtual meeting of NARD’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, after a review of recent interventions by top government officials and stakeholders in the health sector.

The association had earlier resolved to embark on an indefinite strike over the government’s reversal of the reviewed PAT and other unresolved welfare concerns. However, it said it was persuaded to suspend the action following the government’s reversal of its earlier stance and commitment to implement the revised allowance alongside April salaries and subsequent payments.

NARD also noted assurances from the Federal Government to clear outstanding promotion and salary arrears across affected institutions, as well as approval for the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), with pledges for prompt disbursement.

In addition, the Budget Office has commenced steps to settle 19 months of backlog in professional allowance arrears—an intervention the doctors described as a significant progress in addressing long-standing grievances.

Despite the development, the association raised concerns over delays in the payment of house officers’ salaries and called for an urgent stakeholders’ meeting to resolve the issue.

Following deliberations, the NEC resolved to suspend the planned strike and set May’s Ordinary General Meeting in Kano as the review point to assess government compliance.

In a joint statement signed by its leadership, NARD reaffirmed its demand for full implementation of the revised PAT, prompt payment of all arrears, and timely release of the MRTF, warning that failure to sustain compliance could trigger further action.

The association also acknowledged the roles played by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, ministers, lawmakers, and other stakeholders in averting the industrial action.

The development offers temporary relief to Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system, which has frequently been disrupted by industrial disputes, though doctors insist that lasting industrial harmony depends on full implementation of agreements reached.