Nigerian Resident Doctors Suspend Nationwide Strike Plans

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike after a virtual meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) on Saturday. The decision, signed by President Dr.

Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Public Social Secretary Dr.

Abdulmajid Ibrahim, follows high-level engagements with government officials, including the Vice President and ministers of health, labor, and finance. The NEC reviewed the outcomes of these interventions and noted the Federal Government's renewed commitment to pay outstanding salary arrears and promote welfare concerns.

The doctors had initially planned an indefinite strike due to the government's failure to implement a review of their professional allowances. The NEC expressed concern over delays in salary payments and called for urgent stakeholder meetings to resolve these issues.

They also emphasized the need for the government to expedite the disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and commence payments for 19 months of outstanding salary arrears.