The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has said it will resume its previously suspended total, indefinite and comprehensive strike from Jan. 12 over the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement agreed resolutions.
The decision was reached during an emergency virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (E-NEC) held on Friday and was communicated in a statement issued by NARD and obtained from its official X handle “@nard_nigeria”.
According to the statement, the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) said the resumption of the industrial action, tagged “TICS 2.0: No Implementation, No Going Back”, would begin at 12:00 a.m. on Jan. 12.
The NEC directed centre presidents across the association’s 91 accredited centres to convene congress meetings and subsequently brief the media to ensure widespread public awareness of the planned strike within the next seven days.
NARD said the strike would be accompanied by coordinated protests, starting with centre-based demonstrations scheduled from Jan. 12 to Jan. 16.
It added that regional protests would follow, to be led by caucus leaders, while a nationwide protest would later be organised by the NARD NOC.
The association stated that consideration would only be given to suspending the renewed strike after the full implementation of its minimum demands.
Among the demands are the re-instatement of the five resident doctors disengaged from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, as well as the payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears.
It also listed the full implementation of the professional allowance table with arrears captured in the 2026 budget as part of the conditions.
Other demands include official clarification on skipping and entry-level placement issues by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to chief executives of health institutions.
The association further demanded the re-introduction and implementation of the specialist allowance; resolution of house officers’ salary delays and arrears; and the issuance of a pay advisory.
Also listed were the re-categorisation of membership certificates and issuance of certificates after Part I examinations by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
NARD also called for the commencement of the locum and work-hours regulation committees, as well as the resumption and timely conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process.
The NOC explained that the one-week notice before the resumption of the strike was intentionally provided to allow centres to hold congress meetings.
It said the period would also enable engagement with the media and facilitate statutory notifications of the planned protests to security agencies and hospital managements.
The committee thanked members for their patience, resilience and continued support, assuring that engagements with relevant stakeholders would be intensified in the coming days.
PlatinumPost reports that NARD had on Nov. 29, 2025 suspended a 29-day nationwide strike that commenced on Nov. 1, following an extraordinary NEC meeting and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government.
The association had granted a four-week window for the implementation of its demands, warning that failure to comply would trigger a resumption of the strike.
The earlier strike disrupted services in federal and state tertiary health institutions nationwide and was called over unpaid arrears, allowances, stalled promotions, workload concerns and other welfare-related issues affecting resident doctors.
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