The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called off its two-day nationwide warning strike, easing pressure on Nigeria’s strained public health system. The strike, which began on Friday, was suspended on Saturday night, with doctors instructed to return to work on Sunday.
NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, announced the suspension, stating, “Some of our demands have been met, and the government has committed to addressing the remaining issues. We’ve suspended the strike as a gesture of goodwill to support Nigerians seeking healthcare at our facilities.”
Specific details of the met demands were not disclosed at the time of this report.
The strike had disrupted services in public hospitals across the country, with consultants and other healthcare workers managing increased workloads, leading to patient delays.
NARD initiated the strike to demand immediate payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, clearance of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review, and settlement of longstanding salary backlogs. Additional demands included payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, timely disbursement of specialist allowances, and reinstatement of West African postgraduate membership certificate recognition by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
The association also urged the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to issue membership certificates to qualified candidates, implement the 2024 CONMESS, address unresolved welfare issues in Kaduna State, and improve conditions for resident doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
