In a significant development for Nigeria's health sector, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has officially called off its nationwide industrial action. The decision to suspend the strike, which lasted for 29 days, was reached on Saturday, November 30, 2025.
Agreement Reached After Extraordinary Meeting
The suspension was announced following an Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held by the doctors' union. This move comes after nearly one month of a total withdrawal of services by resident doctors across federal health institutions.
Dr Mohamed Suleiman, the National President of NARD, confirmed to press that the decision was made after successful negotiations with the Federal Government. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between both parties, outlining the path forward on several contentious issues.
"We reached an agreement and also signed an MoU," Dr Suleiman stated. "The National Executive Council reviewed the MoU, looked at the timelines, and felt it was acceptable. They then decided that the best course of action for the NEC is to suspend the strike and give at least four weeks to see that some of those things are implemented."
Immediate Resumption and Key Demands
The association has directed all its members to return to their duty posts with immediate effect. This swift resumption is expected to bring relief to public hospitals that have been struggling with skeletal services during the strike period that began on November 1, 2025.
During the industrial action, the doctors had presented the government with 19 legitimate demands, which they described as essential for a sustainable healthcare system and for restoring dignity to medical practice in Nigeria. Some of the critical issues included:
- Non-payment of the outstanding 25% and 35% upward review arrears of CONMESS
- Non-payment of promotion arrears owed to medical officers in federal tertiary health institutions
- Failure to pay arrears of the 2024 accoutrement allowance
- Unjust dismissal of five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja
Broader Implications for Healthcare
The suspension of the strike occurs against the backdrop of widespread burnout among medical professionals and the ongoing brain drain, popularly known as the "JAPA" syndrome. The resolution of these issues is seen as crucial for retaining medical talent within the country.
Dr Suleiman emphasized that the four-week timeline given for implementation of the agreements would be closely monitored by the association. The successful resolution of these matters is expected to not only improve working conditions for resident doctors but also enhance the quality of healthcare delivery to Nigerians.
The return of resident doctors to their posts marks a critical step toward normalizing operations in Nigeria's public health facilities, though all eyes will be on the government's adherence to the agreed timelines in the coming weeks.
