NARD on brink of nationwide strike as crisis meeting looms
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) will hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today to discuss crucial next steps concerning an ultimatum issued to the Federal Government. The association has previously warned that resident doctors would initiate a nationwide strike if their demands are unmet within a 10-day deadline.
This looming strike poses significant risks to Nigeria’s already strained public health system, which is facing a severe shortage of medical personnel, inadequate infrastructure, and overcrowded facilities. Resident doctors play a vital role in the healthcare system, and past strikes have highlighted ongoing issues related to unpaid wages and poor working conditions.
In a communiqué dated September 1, 2025, signed by NARD President Dr. Tope Osundara and other key officials, the doctors outlined their demands. These include immediate payment of the pending 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, resolution of five months’ salary arrears related to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, and settlement of 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears. Additional requests involve prompt disbursement of specialist allowances and restoration of the West African postgraduate membership certificates for qualifying candidates.
Dr. Osundara emphasized that the outcome of today’s NEC meeting will be pivotal in determining the association’s course of action. “We will evaluate if the government has made any meaningful progress in addressing our demands,” he stated. “Positive responses may lead us to reconsider our stance, but in the absence of satisfactory progress, a firm decision regarding potential industrial action will be made.”
NARD’s First Vice-President, Dr. Tajudeen Abdulrauf, reiterated the significance of the NEC meeting, cautioning that if the government fails to address their demands, the likelihood of a strike remains high. “We extended our initial ultimatum, showing willingness to engage in dialogue, but continued inaction has left us with few options,” he noted.
As the meeting unfolds, the association is poised to act, with the health of countless Nigerians hanging in the balance.
