The Nigerian healthcare sector is bracing for a major shutdown as resident doctors across the country have resolved to embark on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike starting from the midnight of Monday, January 12, 2026.
Government's Failure to Honour Agreement Triggers Action
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) issued the directive to its members in 91 tertiary health institutions nationwide. The association's President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, announced the decision following an emergency meeting of its Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) held on Friday, January 2, 2026.
The core reason for the industrial action is the Federal Government's failure to implement the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) previously agreed upon. This MoU was derived from 19 key demands presented by NARD, addressing critical issues of welfare, remuneration, and professional practice affecting doctors.
Disputing Government Claims and Highlighting Core Grievances
NARD has strongly disputed recent claims by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, who stated that the association's demands had been reduced from 19 to nine. The doctors' union clarified that this reduction was merely for public communication, asserting that a closer examination of the nine items reveals they actually encompass 16 unresolved issues.
Dr. Suleiman expressed serious concern over the stalled collective bargaining agreement process and called for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's direct intervention to ensure its urgent resumption and conclusion. He also accused the health ministry of employing delay tactics to prevent salary negotiations for the upcoming year.
Specific Demands and Unpaid Arrears
The NARD president outlined a litany of unresolved financial and administrative issues fueling the strike decision. These include:
- Persistent delays in transmitting compiled promotion and salary arrears owed to doctors in several institutions to the Budget Office and the Federal Ministry of Finance for payment.
- Failure of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to reconcile and pay all failed payments and omissions related to the 25% and 35% upward review of CONMESS and accoutrement allowance, affecting about 40% of NARD members.
- Outstanding salary arrears for House Officers and the non-issuance of a formal pay advisory as promised by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
- Immediate payment of all outstanding salaries and allowance arrears owed to doctors in specific federal and state tertiary health institutions, including BSUTH, KSSH, DELSUTH, FMC Owo, UUTH, OAUTHC, UITH, and FUHSTH Otukpo.
Reinstatement and Reversal Demands
Beyond financial matters, NARD is insisting on the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of five disengaged resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja. The association rejects the Federal Ministry of Health's decision to redeploy them to another hospital, demanding compliance with the recommendations of a duly constituted committee.
Additional professional demands include the immediate reversal of the MDCN's re-categorisation of membership certificates and the prompt issuance of certificates after Part I examinations by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).
A Call for Infrastructure Overhaul and Budgetary Commitment
Dr. Suleiman also stressed the urgent need for government intervention to address the deteriorating state of infrastructure and replace obsolete equipment in health institutions across Nigeria. He emphasized that the full implementation of the approved Professional Allowance Table, including payment of accrued arrears, has not been comprehensively effected and must be adequately captured in the 2026 national budget.
The association has vowed that the strike will continue until the Federal Government and affected state governments demonstrate a "clear, concrete and genuine commitment" to resolving all the outstanding issues.
