The decision followed a five-hour extraordinary meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Saturday. The development marks another major disruption in Nigeria’s health sector, as resident doctors make up the bulk of medical personnel in the country’s teaching and specialist hospitals.
In a statement released on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, NARD President, Dr. Mohammed Usman Suleiman, said the association was left with no choice after government authorities failed to meet their demands despite repeated engagements.
“The NEC has unanimously directed us to declare a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action to commence on Friday, 31st October 2025, at 11:59 p.m.,” Suleiman wrote.
“We have reported to NEC, and NEC has decided. The National Officers Committee (NOC) will carry out this directive to the letter and in full compliance.”
NARD’s Position and Allegations
Dr. Suleiman, in his statement, accused certain “elements within and outside government” of plotting to exploit resident doctors, urging members to remain united and resolute.
“Some elements in the Government (and non-Governmental) have very evil and exploitative plans for Resident Doctors in this country. We shall collectively resist it,” he declared.
He added that the NEC had outlined minimum demands, strike monitoring directives, and ‘No Work, No Pay / No Pay, No Work’ resolutions to guide the industrial action.
NARD also instructed all centre presidents and general secretaries to convene emergency congress meetings across hospitals to brief members and prepare for the strike. Members were further advised to use the days leading up to the action to handover patients and engage traditional and religious leaders for broader community awareness.
Background to the Strike
The strike declaration comes after NARD’s 30-day ultimatum, issued in September, expired without meaningful government response. The doctors had listed several key demands, including:
- Immediate payment of accumulated promotion arrears;
- Release of corrected professional allowance tables;
- Reinstatement of five sacked doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja; and
- Urgent action on the review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), which has stalled for years.
The association has long complained about poor remuneration, delayed salaries, and deteriorating working conditions, issues that have triggered multiple strikes in recent years.
Implications for the Health Sector
The impending strike is expected to paralyse clinical services in major public hospitals across the country. Resident doctors are the frontline medical personnel handling most inpatient and emergency cases, especially in federal teaching and specialist institutions.
As the countdown to the strike begins, Nigerians may once again brace for disruptions in healthcare delivery, even as stakeholders call for urgent dialogue between NARD and the Federal Government to avert a full-scale shutdown of public hospitals.