Posted by Chinenye on Fri 31st Jul, 2026 - tori.ng
Nigeria’s resident doctors have issued a fresh warning that a major healthcare disruption could be looming if unresolved demands are not addressed.
(Doctor. Photo Credit: Premuim Times)
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has vowed to go on a statewide indefinite strike beginning August 10 if the federal government does not resolve outstanding salary arrears, welfare concerns, and other long-standing issues impacting its members.
The union announced the decision in a communiqué issued during a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Gombe State, where it assessed the fulfillment of previous agreements with the government.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced that its proposed Total and Comprehensive Industrial Strike (TICS) would commence at 8am on August 10 unless its demands are met before the deadline.
According to the association's communiqué, its National Executive Council reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and dialogue, but insisted that the welfare of resident doctors and the survival of Nigeria's healthcare system remain non-negotiable.
Among its demands, NARD called for the immediate payment of outstanding arrears arising from the 25 and 35 per cent review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), 19 months of unpaid professional allowance arrears, and outstanding salary and promotion arrears owed to doctors across several federal health institutions.
It also urged the government to ensure that all eligible resident doctors who were omitted from the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) disbursement are paid without further delay.
While acknowledging the federal government's recent disbursement of the residency training fund to eligible beneficiaries, the association noted that many financial obligations to resident doctors remain unresolved.
NARD also raised concerns over what it described as the continued intimidation of resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), accusing hospital management of refusing to provide call duty meals despite repeated engagements, and called on the federal government to intervene.
It warned that failure to resolve the issues at LUTH before August 10 would leave it with no choice but to proceed with the planned industrial action.
The association further condemned what it described as persistent ass@ults, har@ssment and intimidation of doctors across the country, warning that such incidents threaten an already fragile healthcare system.
It called for the establishment of a national protocol to prevent vi0lence against healthcare workers and urged lawmakers to criminalise ass@ults on health personnel.
NARD also expressed concern over deteriorating infrastructure in public hospitals, citing inadequate medical equipment, unreliable electricity supply and poor maintenance of facilities.
It highlighted chronic underfunding of the health sector, shortages of healthcare workers and high out-of-pocket healthcare costs, saying these factors continue to limit access to quality healthcare for millions of Nigerians.
The association urged federal and state governments to increase investment in healthcare, strengthen primary healthcare services, improve health financing and recruit more health workers in order to advance universal health coverage.
It further called for the speedy conclusion and implementation of the Medical and Health Workers' Collective Bargaining Agreement, alongside the recommendations of the ministerial committee reviewing excessive workloads, prolonged call duty hours, the casualisation of doctors, and the abuse of locum appointments.
It also demanded urgent action to resolve salary delays, unpaid arrears and internship placement challenges affecting house officers.
Nigeria has witnessed several industrial actions by resident doctors in recent years, with disputes largely centred on unpaid salaries and allowances, poor working conditions, residency training funding and the implementation of agreements reached with the government.
Health experts have repeatedly warned that prolonged strikes disrupt access to healthcare, delay surgeries and add further pressure to an already overstretched health system, particularly affecting patients who depend on public hospitals.