The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike following new promises from the federal government on key welfare concerns.
The decision was made during a virtual emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting on April 25.
The doctors began a strike on April 7 but suspended it the same day, allowing the government two weeks to meet their demands.
In a communique issued following its most recent NEC meeting, NARD stated that it had evaluated interventions by top government officials and agencies, including the vice-president, ministries of health, labor, and finance, as well as the budget office and the office of the federation’s accountant-general.
Among its key findings, NARD noted that the previous decision to halt the implementation of the reviewed professional allowance table (PAT) has been reversed, with implementation expected to take effect in April salaries and beyond.
It also acknowledged that “the Federal Government has renewed its commitment to the payment of all outstanding promotion arrears and salary arrears owed to resident doctors in affected institutions”.
The NEC further observed that “initial approval has been secured for the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), with a firm commitment to conclude and finalise the disbursement process”, adding that the budget office had indicated readiness to begin payment of “the outstanding nineteen (19) months’ arrears of the Professional Allowance.”
However, the association expressed concern about delays affecting a specific category of doctors, as well as the continuing delay in paying house officers’ salaries.
Following its deliberations, the NEC issued a number of demands, including the continued implementation of the reviewed professional allowance table (PAT), as reflected in the April salary and subsequent months, as well as the prompt payment of all outstanding promotion and salary arrears owed to resident doctors in affected institutions.
It also called for “the expedited conclusion and full disbursement of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF)”, and “the immediate commencement and timely completion of the process for the payment of the outstanding nineteen (19) months’ arrears of the Professional Allowance”.
NARD also demanded an urgent stakeholders meeting to address and resolve the persistent backlog in the payment of house officers’ salaries.
“In light of the above developments, the NEC resolves to suspend the proposed Total, Indefinite, and Comprehensive Strike action, with a review of progress to be undertaken at the May Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) in Kano,” the communique reads.
