Resident Doctors suspend strike, give FG Two Weeks to meet demands

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its five-day warning strike, granting the Federal Government a two-week period to fulfill agreements on members’ welfare and training.

The strike, which began on September 12, was called off after a virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting on Saturday, September 13, with doctors directed to resume work from 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 14.

In a statement signed by NARD President Dr. Tope Osundara and Secretary General Dr. Odunbaku Kazeem Oluwasola, the association cited the commencement of payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to previously unpaid members and the need to ease the burden on Nigerians already facing economic hardship as reasons for suspending the action.

“After due deliberations, considering the plight of Nigerians who are grappling with health issues under the present harsh economy, the NEC resolved to suspend the strike action effective 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2025, to allow the government a two-week window to fully implement the demands contained in our communiqué,” the statement read.

NARD also urged the Oyo State Government to meet the Nigerian Medical Association’s (NMA) 15-day ultimatum to resolve doctors’ grievances at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, warning that failure to comply would lead to an indefinite solidarity strike by its members in the state.

The association further called on other state governments to promptly address welfare issues affecting resident doctors, emphasizing that members in state tertiary hospitals were empowered to continue industrial action until genuine efforts were made to resolve their concerns.