The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its month-long nationwide strike, directing all members to resume work immediately after reaching fresh agreements with the Federal Government.
The industrial action, which began on November 1, 2025, was halted following an Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Saturday, where the association reviewed and accepted a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with government officials.
NARD President, Dr. Mohamed Suleiman, confirmed to The Guardian that the decision to suspend the strike was based on commitments extracted from the government on several key demands.
“We reached an agreement and signed an MoU. After reviewing the timelines and terms, the NEC felt they were acceptable. The best course of action is to suspend the strike and give at least four weeks for implementation,” Suleiman said.
He added that the suspension takes immediate effect and that all resident doctors must return to their duty posts without delay.
During the 29-day strike, the doctors insisted on a list of 19 demands, which they described as the minimum conditions for stabilising Nigeria’s healthcare system and restoring dignity to the medical profession.
Among their major concerns were the non-payment of the outstanding 25 and 35 per cent CONMESS upward review arrears due since August 2025, as well as accumulated salary and promotion arrears owed to medical officers across federal tertiary hospitals. They also cited the failure of the government to pay the 2024 accoutrement allowance despite repeated assurances from the Ministry of Health, alongside the controversial dismissal of five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja — a development the union described as particularly troubling amid worsening burnout and the escalating “Japa” exodus in the health sector.
While the agreement marks progress, NARD has made it clear that the next four weeks will determine the government’s sincerity—and whether industrial action might return if promises are not kept.
Resident Doctors Call Off 29-Day Strike, Return to Work Immediately
