Public hospitals across Nigeria may face widespread disruption from August 10, 2026, after the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) declared an indefinite nationwide strike over what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreements reached with the association and address long-standing welfare concerns.
The decision was announced in a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and Annual National Scientific Conference held in Gombe on Thursday.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, NARD National President, Dr. Muhammed Usman Suleiman, said the industrial action had become inevitable because of the government’s inability to resolve issues affecting resident doctors across federal health institutions.
According to him, resident doctors continue to face poor welfare conditions, unpaid salaries and allowances, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, workplace intimidation, harassment and physical assaults, despite repeated engagements with government authorities.
“The strike is unavoidable due to circumstances beyond the control of the association. Our members can no longer continue to work under conditions that undermine their welfare, safety and professional dignity,” Suleiman said.
He urged the Federal Government to urgently address the association’s demands before the strike takes effect in order to prevent a nationwide disruption of healthcare services.
Among the issues raised by the association is the non-release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, despite repeated assurances from the government.
NARD also cited persistent delays in the payment of house officers’ salaries, promotion arrears and other outstanding entitlements across several health institutions.
The association further demanded the payment of the 25/35 per cent CONMESS salary review arrears and 19 months of outstanding Professional Allowance arrears, saying doctors have endured prolonged financial hardship.
“NARD can no longer tolerate the hardship being imposed on doctors through persistent delays in salaries and welfare payments,” the communiqué stated.
The resident doctors also called for the implementation of the revised CONMESS salary structure, improved protection for healthcare workers against assaults, accelerated implementation of the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement, and prompt execution of recommendations from ministerial committees investigating excessive workload and poor working conditions.
Welfare concerns across hospitals
NARD expressed concern over what it described as the victimisation of its members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, warning that it would resist any form of intimidation or harassment.
The association also condemned attempts to reintroduce bench fees for resident doctors in private tertiary hospitals despite an existing government directive abolishing the practice.
It further criticised the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) over the continued refusal to provide call meals for resident doctors on duty, describing the development as anti-worker and warning that hospital managements would be held responsible for any industrial unrest resulting from such practices.
Some progress acknowledged
Despite announcing the strike, NARD acknowledged ongoing efforts to address violence against healthcare workers and welcomed the near-completion of reports by ministerial committees investigating workplace assaults, excessive workloads, prolonged call hours, casualisation of doctors and abusive locum appointments.
The association also commended some state governments and private tertiary health institutions for implementing welfare measures, including payment of Professional Allowance arrears, Specialist Allowance, salary adjustments under the revised CONMESS structure and the disbursement of the Medical Residency Training Fund.
However, it maintained that implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government remains slow and unsatisfactory.
Healthcare services at risk
If the strike proceeds as scheduled on August 10, government-owned hospitals across the country are expected to experience significant disruptions, with outpatient clinics, emergency services and specialist care likely to be affected.
The planned industrial action comes barely weeks after NARD issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government, warning that it would embark on a nationwide strike if its demands were not met. With no breakthrough reported, the association says its members are prepared to withdraw their services indefinitely until concrete action is taken.
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