The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has terminated its indefinite nationwide strike following a consensus with the federal government.
Mohammad Suleiman, President of NARD, confirmed the suspension of the strike in a post on his X handle yesterday.
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has decided to suspend the current total, indefinite, and comprehensive strike action, he stated.
Suleiman stated that the suspension of the industrial action results from a series of conciliatory meetings with the federal government and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) outlining the status of the 19-point demands of the association.
The NARD President identified key issues, including promotion arrears, and indicated that the compilation has yet to be finalized by the chief medical directors and/or medical directors (CMDs/MDs).
Suleiman states that the deadline for the payment of promotion arrears is in four weeks.
The NARD President addressed salary arrears, stating that the payment deadline is four weeks. He noted that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has issued a clear directive regarding the specialist allowance, with implementation to be managed by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
A committee has recommended the reabsorption of the “Lokoja 5” into the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, with full implementation anticipated within two weeks.
Suleiman presented the key aspects of the MoU, which encompass the current procedures for the disbursement of the 25 and 35 percent allowances, as well as the accoutrement allowance.
On November 1, resident doctors initiated a nationwide strike characterized as “total, comprehensive, and indefinite,” advocating for equitable remuneration, settlement of salary arrears, enhanced working conditions, sufficient staffing, and the establishment of essential medical infrastructure.
Concerns also encompass excessive workloads, which respondents indicated directly impact the quality of healthcare provided to Nigerians.
Their demands included immediate payment of the outstanding 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 percent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, and resolution of other long-standing salary backlog issues.
The issues include the payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, timely disbursement of specialist allowances, and reinstatement of the recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates.
The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria was urged to issue membership certificates to all qualified candidates, implement the 2024 CONMESS, resolve outstanding welfare issues in Kaduna State, and address the concerns of resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
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