THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called off its five-day warning strike but has issued the Federal Government a fresh two-week deadline to address its unresolved demands.
NARD President, Tope Osundara, announced the suspension in a statement on Saturday, 13 September.
“Some of our demands have been met. The government has promised to look into other issues. Strike suspended; resumption of work on Sunday, September 14. We did this as a sign of goodwill and to assist Nigerians who are seeking healthcare in our various facilities,” he said.
The association had earlier given several ultimatums before the strike, starting with a 21-day notice in July, which was later extended by 10 days and expired on September 10. It then issued a final 24-hour notice before embarking on the industrial action.
In a communiqué signed by President Tope Osundara, General Secretary Oluwasola Odunbaku, and Publicity Secretary Omoha Amobi, NARD said the strike would be suspended from 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2025, to give the government a two-week window to meet its demands.
The statement noted that the decision was taken after considering the plight of Nigerians struggling with health challenges in the current harsh economy.
The doctors’ demands include immediate payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) salary review, payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, and timely release of specialist allowances.
They also urged the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to recognise West African postgraduate membership certificates and called on the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to issue membership certificates to all qualified candidates.
NARD also gave the Oyo State Government a 15-day deadline to resolve welfare concerns affecting doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, warning that failure to act would trigger an indefinite solidarity strike by its members in the state.
The association added that resident doctors in state-owned tertiary hospitals could continue ongoing strikes until their governments show a genuine commitment to addressing unresolved issues.
The ICIR reports that the strike, which commenced on Friday, September 12 , disrupted services in public hospitals nationwide, leaving consultants and other health workers to handle increased caseloads and causing patients long waiting times.
Fatimah Quadri is a Journalist and a Fact-checker at The ICIR. She has written news articles, fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy in an effort to combat information disorder.
She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or fquadri@icirnigeria.org