The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike set to begin on Friday, November 1, 2025, following the Federal Government’s failure to meet its long-standing demands.
NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, announced the decision in a statement on Sunday, saying the action was approved after a five-hour emergency meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Saturday.
Suleiman explained that the strike directive followed the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier issued to the government to address issues affecting the welfare and working conditions of resident doctors.
"The NEC has unanimously directed us to declare a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action to commence on Friday, 31st October 2025, at 11:59 p.m.," he said.
The NARD president added that the National Officers Committee (NOC) has been mandated to ensure full compliance and enforce strike monitoring across all centres.
He said centre presidents and general secretaries have also been instructed to convene emergency congresses to brief members on the resolutions.
"We have reported to NEC and NEC has decided. The NOC will carry out this directive in full compliance. NEC has also directed centre presidents and general secretaries to call emergency meetings to brief members accordingly," Suleiman said.
The association accused certain government and non-government actors of plotting "evil and exploitative plans" against resident doctors, warning that such actions would be "collectively resisted."
Ahead of the industrial action, NARD has urged its members to hand over patients properly, engage community and religious leaders, and sensitise the public on the reasons for the strike.
It stressed that the planned strike follows months of frustration over unresolved issues, including Non-payment of arrears from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
NARD further listed unjust dismissal of five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Non-payment of promotion arrears and the 2024 accoutrement allowance, and Bureaucratic delays in upgrading doctors' ranks after postgraduate examinations.
Other issues were exclusion from specialist allowances and the civil service scheme for medical and dental house officers, and downgrading of newly employed resident doctors, resulting in reduced earnings.
NARD had issued a one-month ultimatum on September 26, warning that it would take decisive action if the government failed to address these grievances.
Comments
Post a Comment