The National Industrial Court in Abuja on Friday issued an order restraining the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and two of its officials from embarking on any industrial action scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026.
Justice E. D. Subilim granted the interim injunction in a suit marked NICN/ABJ/06/2026, filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation against the association, its president, Dr Mohammad Suleman, and its secretary, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim.
The ruling followed moves by the Association of Resident Doctors at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, which on Thursday announced its support for the nationwide total and indefinite strike declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, billed to commence at 12 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026.
The resident doctors had accused the Federal Government of what they described as insincerity and insensitivity in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding reached with NARD after the suspension of the association’s 29-day industrial action in November 2025.
The interim order was granted on Friday, January 9, 2026, following an ex parte application by the Federal Government seeking to restrain the doctors from calling or organising any form of strike, work stoppage, picketing, go-slow or other industrial protest pending the determination of a substantive motion.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim barred the association, its officers, members, agents or anyone acting on their behalf from “calling, directing, organising, participating in or embarking upon any form of industrial action” or taking steps toward such action.
The injunction is to remain in effect until January 21, 2026, when the court is expected to hear the motion on notice.
The court ruled:“An interim order of injunction is hereby granted restraining the defendants/respondents, their members, servants, agents, privies, and/or any other person acting on their behalf or at their directives from;
“Calling, directing, organising, participating in or embarking upon any form of industrial action, including but not limited to strikes, work stoppages, go-slows, picketing or any other form of industrial protest or disruption;
“Taking steps preparatory to or in furtherance of any industrial action, from the 12th January, 2026, until the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
Justice Subilim further directed the Federal Government to serve the defendants with the court processes within seven days, while granting the resident doctors the liberty to apply for a discharge or variation of the order within the same period.
He added:“The claimants/applicants shall serve the defendants with this order within seven (7) days of the date hereof.
“The defendants/respondents shall be at liberty to apply to discharge or vary this order within seven days after services of this order.”
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