NARD Declares Indefinite Strike Amid Health Funding Crisis

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced an indefinite strike beginning at 12 AM on April 7, 2023, coinciding with World Health Day. The strike is triggered by disputes over unpaid arrears and the suspension of a revised professional allowance.

Shuaibu Ibrahim, NARD's Secretary General, criticized the federal government's failure to implement the revised allowance, warning that this could prolong the crisis in Nigeria's health sector. The strike reflects deeper structural problems, including chronic underfunding, as the health sector's allocation remains below 6% of the total government budget.

Despite Nigeria's commitment in 2001 to allocate at least 15% of its national budget to health, recent figures show allocations have consistently fallen short. For instance, the proposed budget for 2026 allocates N2.48 trillion to health, yet the actual spending remains inadequate.

Paul Ajasa, a resident doctor at the Kubwa General Hospital in Abuja, emphasized that financial issues are central to health outcomes in Nigeria.