Resident Doctors Launch Five-Day Warning Strike Over Unmet Demands

Resident doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have begun a five-day nationwide warning strike, effective from Friday September 12 until Tuesday September 16, 2025, in protest against what they describe as government inertia on crucial welfare and salary issues.


The decision to down tools came after an online meeting of NARD’s National Executive Council (E-NEC) held on September 10 and extending into the early hours of September 11. During that meeting, members considered several extensions of earlier ultimatums but ultimately resolved that the government has failed to meet their demands sufficiently.


Among the doctors’ grievances are delayed or unpaid entitlements, including the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, arrears from the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), specialist and hazard allowances, and the failure to recognise certain postgraduate qualifications, notably those from the West African Colleges. Conditions of work, power shortages in hospitals, the downgrading of certificates, and poor welfare were also cited.


All centres belonging to NARD have been directed to notify their hospital managements and take part in the industrial action. The association has warned that the strike could severely disrupt services across public and teaching hospitals, especially in emergency, diagnostic, intensive care, and specialist clinics.


The strike follows a 10-day ultimatum previously issued to relevant government agencies, which expired without satisfactory response. NARD also gave a final 24-hour window in an earlier statement to address some of the key demands before the warning strike commenced.

Share to: