The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued the Federal Government a final ultimatum to fully implement the provisions of its existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or face a nationwide indefinite strike beginning Monday, August 10, 2026.
The association said the industrial action would commence if the government fails to meet its demands by 8:00 a.m. on the deadline.
The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of NARD’s week-long National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Gombe State from July 26 to July 31.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the association’s President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya.
During the meeting, delegates expressed concern over what they described as the worsening condition of Nigeria’s healthcare system, citing repeated assaults on doctors, poor welfare, unpaid salaries and allowances, inadequate remuneration, and deteriorating working conditions.
The association also condemned the alleged intimidation and unfair treatment of resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), calling on the authorities to immediately address the situation and restore call-duty meal provisions.
NARD lamented the shrinking number of resident doctors in the country, revealing that the workforce has dropped from about 25,000 doctors 11 years ago to just over 12,000, despite Nigeria’s population exceeding 230 million.
According to the association, about 10,000 resident doctors are currently serving in federal health institutions, while only around 2,000 are employed across state-owned and private hospitals nationwide.
The doctors outlined a 13-point demand, including the immediate payment of outstanding CONMESS salary adjustment arrears, 19 months of unpaid professional allowances, Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) allowances, salary and promotion arrears, and improved welfare for house officers.
They also called for the establishment of a national protocol to prevent assaults on healthcare workers, legislation criminalising attacks on medical personnel, improved hospital infrastructure, modern medical equipment, and measures to reduce excessive workloads and the casualisation of doctors.
NARD noted that it had repeatedly extended previous deadlines to allow room for dialogue but warned that it would no longer tolerate delays in implementing agreements affecting the welfare and safety of its members.
The association urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to address the outstanding issues before the August 10 deadline to avert a nationwide disruption of healthcare services.
