The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has announced plans to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike beginning at midnight on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in a move that is set to disrupt healthcare services across Nigeria.
The decision followed the Federal Government’s move to suspend the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table, a critical component of agreements reached after the association’s 2025 industrial action.
The resolution was reached during a virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday, where members expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as the government’s failure to honour earlier commitments.
In a statement signed by the association’s National President, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the group described the development as “unfortunate,” blaming the Federal Government for forcing doctors back into industrial action.
Ibrahim explained that the dispute centres on the revised Professional Allowance Table, which was negotiated to improve the welfare of resident doctors.
The agreement covered areas such as call duty allowances, shift allowances, rural posting incentives, and payments for non-clinical duties.
According to him, the implementation, initially scheduled to commence in January 2026, was first delayed until February.
However, the association now alleged that the government intends to discontinue the process entirely by April, a move it says undermines trust and violates the agreement reached with doctors.
He stressed that the decision has left the association with little choice but to resume strike action, warning that the consequences could further strain Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.
NARD also called on the government to urgently reverse its decision and settle all outstanding entitlements owed to its members, insisting that compliance with previously signed agreements is essential to restoring industrial harmony in the health sector.
The planned strike marks another chapter in the ongoing face-off between resident doctors and the Federal Government, raising concerns about access to medical care for millions of Nigerians if the dispute is not resolved swiftly.
