The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, to implement the terms of a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding or face a total, comprehensive and indefinite nationwide strike across public health facilities.
The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya, at the end of the association’s week-long National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held from July 26 to July 31 in Gombe State.
Hosted by the Association of Resident Doctors in Gombe, the meeting brought together delegates from across the country to deliberate on pressing challenges confronting Nigeria’s health sector.
During the briefing, delegates expressed grave concern over what they described as the worsening state of the nation’s healthcare system.
Among the issues highlighted were persistent cases of assault, harassment and violent attacks on doctors while performing their duties, poor remuneration, non-payment of outstanding salary and promotion arrears, deteriorating working conditions, and the alleged intimidation and poor treatment of resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
The association also painted a grim picture of the country’s shrinking medical workforce and declining healthcare infrastructure.
According to NARD, Nigeria had about 25,000 resident doctors 11 years ago, but the figure has fallen to just over 12,000 serving a population of more than 230 million people. Of those, about 10,000 work in federal health institutions, while roughly 2,000 are employed in state-owned and private health facilities nationwide.
In its communiqué, the association outlined a 13-point demand, warning that failure to substantially address the issues before the August 10 deadline would trigger a full-scale industrial action.
The demands include the development of a National Healthcare Workers Assault Prevention and Response Protocol and legislation criminalising assaults on health personnel.
NARD also called for the resolution of the crisis at LUTH, urging the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, to address what it described as the persistent intimidation of doctors and to restore call-duty meals.
The association further demanded the immediate payment of outstanding 25/35 per cent CONMESS upward review arrears, 19 months of Professional Allowance arrears, omitted 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) allowances, as well as outstanding salary and promotion arrears across federal health institutions.
It also urged the government to address severe workload pressures, excessive call-duty hours, the casualisation of doctors and welfare challenges affecting house officers.
NARD further called for the urgent rehabilitation, upgrading and equitable distribution of healthcare infrastructure and modern medical equipment across the country.
The association said it had repeatedly extended previous ultimatums in good faith but would no longer tolerate delays in addressing the welfare and safety of its members.
It urged the Federal Government to urgently resolve the outstanding issues to maintain industrial harmony and safeguard Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.
