Resident doctors call off nationwide strike after govt talks
Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) suspended its nationwide strike Monday, less than 24 hours after it began, following high-level government interventions. The Vice President, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Minister of Labour and Employment, and Minister of Finance engaged with the association, prompting NARD's National Executive Council to call off the industrial action as a 'demonstration of goodwill.'
The strike was initially triggered by unpaid allowances, delayed salaries, and other welfare issues affecting resident doctors across Nigeria. However, NARD has issued a two-week ultimatum for the federal government to address three critical demands: reversing the halted Professional Allowance Table (PAT), clearing all promotion and salary arrears, and disbursing the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).
The association warned that failure to meet these demands within 14 days will trigger an immediate resumption of the strike. This puts pressure on the government to resolve outstanding financial commitments to healthcare workers. With resident doctors comprising a significant portion of the medical workforce, any prolonged disruption could severely impact healthcare delivery nationwide.
Given the government's track record with similar agreements, do you think these payments will be resolved within two weeks, or is another strike likely?