The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)
has announced that its members will embark on an indefinite nationwide strike
beginning at midnight on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in response to unresolved
disputes with the Federal Government.
The decision followed a virtual meeting of the
association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council held on April 4, where
leaders deliberated on ongoing issues affecting resident doctors across the
country.
In a statement issued after the meeting, NARD
President, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, expressed disappointment over the situation,
describing the planned industrial action as regrettable but necessary. He
accused the Federal Government of failing to uphold commitments previously made
to the association.
According to him, the core of the disagreement
revolves around the implementation of a revised Professional Allowance Table.
This new payment structure was agreed upon after the doctors’ prolonged strike
in 2025 and was designed to improve the welfare of resident doctors nationwide.
The agreement covered several key financial benefits,
including enhanced call duty allowances, shift duty payments, incentives for
doctors working in rural areas, and compensation for non-clinical
responsibilities. Although the rollout of these benefits was initially
scheduled to begin in January 2026, implementation was delayed until February.
However, NARD has alleged that the government now
intends to halt the process entirely by April, a move the association views as
a breach of trust and a violation of the earlier agreement.
The association is therefore demanding an immediate
reversal of this decision, along with the full payment of all outstanding
allowances owed to its members.
With the strike set to begin, healthcare services
across Nigeria are expected to face significant disruption, as resident doctors
play a crucial role in the daily operations of public hospitals.
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