Resident Doctors Suspend Planned Strike After High-Level Intervention
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced the suspension of its planned nationwide industrial action. This significant development follows a period of intense engagement with the Federal Government and other key stakeholders, which NARD described as yielding substantial progress on its long-standing demands.
The decision to halt the strike was formalized during a virtual Emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting convened on January 11, 2026. During this meeting, the association’s leadership meticulously reviewed the current status of their demands and evaluated recent developments pertinent to their grievances.
A pivotal factor influencing NARD’s decision was the direct intervention of the presidency. The association highlighted that Vice President Kashim Shettima, acting on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, played a crucial role in facilitating these advancements.
Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, the Secretary-General of NARD, clarified that the suspension is both strategic and conditional. This approach allows the National Executive Council (NEC) to thoroughly assess tangible progress during its upcoming meeting, scheduled to commence on January 25, 2026.
Sources close to the negotiations revealed that significant headway was achieved behind the scenes in the week preceding the announcement. These behind-the-scenes efforts reportedly shifted NARD’s initial stance and paved the way for the suspension.
“In the last one week, there has been a lot of progress that has been made. Most of all of those progresses are at a very, very higher level, at the level of the presidency, as a matter of fact,” a source privy to the discussions stated.
The same source indicated that tensions had escalated due to the perceived handling of the issues by the leadership of the Ministry of Health. Specifically, the approach of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, reportedly prompted political intervention to de-escalate the situation.
“To emphasize the seriousness of the issue, I learnt that Minister Pate was called to order and also appealed to, trying to balance the things,” the source added, underscoring the high-level nature of the mediation.
The successful engagement saw the involvement of a diverse range of stakeholders. This included hospital chief executives and prominent political figures, who were drawn into the discussions to facilitate a resolution.
“Committee of CMDs, they met him a couple of times and he also had intervention from, I think, the top officials of APC. At a time, they started to fly the kite of political undertones and opposition involvement, so this led to APC leadership coming in to intervene and ascertain the facts,” the source elaborated. These broader consultations were instrumental in ensuring decision-makers gained a comprehensive understanding of the resident doctors’ concerns.
“So, they are trying to get information from those at the receiving end of the agitation, the resident doctors,” the insider explained, emphasizing the importance of direct input from the affected parties.
The interventions are reported to have translated into concrete actions, with specific directives issued regarding outstanding payments. The insider further explained that industrial action, while a powerful tool, is ultimately a means to achieve desired outcomes rather than an end in itself.
“Strike, in the real sense, is not for the purpose of just being down-tooling. It’s like a tool to get something,” the source articulated.
Despite the positive developments, NARD leadership has reportedly faced internal pressure from members who have been kept largely uninformed about the intricacies of the negotiations.
“We are getting a lot of bashing from our members because there is so much information that we can still not reveal to them,” the source admitted. However, there is an expectation that member appreciation will grow as the tangible results of these efforts become evident.
“By the time they start to see that the issues are being addressed, anomalies corrected and outstanding pays received, the members would appreciate the efforts,” the source expressed confidence.
Key Issues Addressed and Progress Made:
The resolution of the prolonged crisis at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, was highlighted as a significant achievement. This was reportedly facilitated by the implementation of a committee report previously established by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Lokoja Hospital Crisis Resolution: A new reconciliation committee has been formed, comprising Chief Medical Directors, representatives from the Ministry of Health, and NARD. This committee aims to ensure resident doctors remain at the hospital and to foster lasting peace between NARD and the Association of Resident Doctors and the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria at the facility.
CONMESS Arrears: Verified lists for the outstanding 25% and 35% Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears have been submitted to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has formally communicated with the Ministry of Finance and IPPIS to expedite these payments. Similar progress has been reported concerning the accoutrement allowance.
Promotion and Salary Arrears: Lists detailing promotion and salary arrears have been transmitted by the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office. The Minister of State for Finance has acknowledged receipt, and ongoing discussions are focused on establishing a clear and expedited payment plan.
Entry-Level Placement: The Director of Hospital Services will liaise with hospital chief executives to reinforce a directive from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. This directive clarifies that CONMESS 3 is recognized as the official entry level for doctors.
Locum Practice and Work-Hour Regulation: A multi-stakeholder committee has been established to address issues surrounding locum practice and work-hour regulation. This committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Health, Chief Medical Directors, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and NARD, with preliminary activities already underway.
Specialist Allowances: Concrete steps are being taken towards the full implementation of specialist allowances, signaling a commitment to improving remuneration for these crucial medical professionals.
House Officers’ Welfare: The Ministry of Labour has intervened in matters concerning the welfare of house officers. The Ministry of Health is set to formally engage the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and IPPIS regarding salary delays and outstanding arrears.
State and Private Facilities: NARD noted progress in efforts to ensure that salary and allowance gains achieved at the federal level are also implemented in state and private health facilities, aiming for equitable treatment across the healthcare sector.
Membership Re-categorisation: Advancements have also been made in the area of membership re-categorisation, further streamlining the association’s structure and representation.
Based on these firm commitments from a broad spectrum of critical stakeholders—including the Ministries of Health, Labour, and Finance, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, IPPIS, the Budget Office, the National Assembly, the Department of State Services, and the Vice Presidency—NARD unanimously resolved to suspend the planned resumption of its strike action, previously designated as TICS 2.0. This decision reflects a strategic pause to allow for the effective implementation of agreed-upon measures.
