ABUJA, Nigeria — The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has launched a nationwide strike, halting services at public hospitals across Nigeria in protest against unmet demands for improved pay, working conditions, and staffing.
The industrial action, described by the union as “total, comprehensive, and indefinite,” began on Saturday, November 1, 2025, following a five-hour National Executive Council meeting last week.
In a statement announcing the strike, NARD President Muhammad Suleiman said the decision became unavoidable after repeated attempts to secure commitments from the federal government failed.
“This action has become inevitable, following the repeated failure of the Federal Government of Nigeria to honour its promises and implement the agreements reached with us after several rounds of dialogue, appeals, and ultimata,” Suleiman said.
The association’s demands include:
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A 200 percent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS)
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Full implementation of new allowances proposed in July 2022
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Immediate recruitment of more clinical staff
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Removal of bureaucratic delays in replacing departing doctors
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Improvement of hospital infrastructure and equipment
The union highlighted deteriorating working conditions, overstretched personnel, and chronic underfunding in the health sector, arguing that these problems directly compromise patient safety.
“A resident doctor who is overworked, underpaid, and mentally exhausted cannot offer optimal care to the patient who needs them most,” the statement said.
Suleiman emphasised that the strike is a last resort driven by a desire to protect the country’s healthcare system, not for personal gain.
“Our demands are not selfish, neither are they politically motivated. They are genuine, germane, and patriotic, centred on the survival of the Nigerian health system and the well-being of every citizen who depends on it,” he said.
He urged Nigerians, civil society groups, labour unions, and religious leaders to support the doctors’ push for reform.
“This is not a fight between resident doctors and government; it is a struggle for a functional, just, and humane healthcare system,” he added.
The strike is expected to significantly disrupt services in public hospitals nationwide, where resident doctors form the majority of the medical workforce, handling emergency care, critical services, and inpatient management.
NARD had issued a 30-day ultimatum earlier in the year over unresolved issues and reiterated that it regrets any hardship caused by the industrial action.
“The decision did not come lightly,” Suleiman said, adding that the union remains open to renewed negotiations.
The federal government had not issued an immediate response as of Saturday, November 1, 2025.
Past doctor strikes have often led to hurried negotiations, but long-term structural problems in Nigeria’s healthcare system — including chronic brain drain — remain unresolved.
