Resident Doctors Threaten Nationwide Strike from January 12 Over Welfare Issues

 

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to resume industrial action across the country starting January 12, 2026.

This decision followed an emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on January 2, in which the association expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s failure to address long-standing welfare and professional demands of resident doctors.

According to a statement signed by Muhammad Suleiman, NARD President, the strike will commence at 12:00 am on Monday, January 12.

The association said all 91 NARD centres nationwide are expected to hold congress meetings, followed by press briefings to highlight their demands to the public. “We want 91 press conferences to saturate the spaces over the next seven days,” the statement added.

NARD also outlined a phased protest plan. The action will start with centre-based protests from January 12 to 16, progress to regional demonstrations coordinated by caucus leaders, and culminate in a national protest organised by the NARD National Officers’ Committee (NOC).

The association listed nine minimum demands that must be met before any suspension of TICS 2.0 can be considered. These include:

Reinstatement of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja

Payment of promotion and salary arrears

Full implementation of the professional allowance table with arrears reflected in the 2026 budget

Reintroduction of the specialist allowance

Resolution of house officers’ salary delays

Official clarification on skipping and entry-level issues by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

Resumption and conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process

The NOC explained that the one-week notice before the strike is intended to allow for internal consultations, media engagement, and statutory notifications to security agencies, including the DSS, the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as hospital managements.

“The NOC appreciates the guidance of NEC and assures all members of full commitment to these resolutions. Engagements will be intensified in the coming days,” the statement concluded.