The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended the resumption of its planned nationwide strike, which was due to begin on Monday, following fresh assurances from the Federal Government and other key stakeholders.
NARD said the suspension was conditional and would be reviewed at its next National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled to commence on January 25, 2026.
In a communiqué issued after a virtual Emergency NEC meeting held on January 11, and signed by its Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, it said the decision was taken after reviewing progress on outstanding demands and ongoing engagements with government agencies.
According to the association, commitments were received from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Other were the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the Budget Office, chief medical directors, the National Assembly and the Department of State Services.
NARD also cited the intervention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, acting on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, as central to the decision.
“Following firm commitments from critical stakeholders… and based on the direct presidential intervention led by Kashim Shettima, acting on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, the NEC unanimously resolved to suspend the resumption of TICS 2.0,” the communiqué stated, adding that the suspension was “strategic and conditional.”
The association said progress had been recorded on several issues, including the resolution of the crisis at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, through the implementation of an earlier committee report and the establishment of a new reconciliation committee.
On outstanding 25 per cent and 35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears, NARD said verified lists had been forwarded to IPPIS, while the Ministry of Labour had written to the Ministry of Finance with attention to the payroll office.
The association stressed it would continue to monitor the process to ensure payment, saying lists relating to promotion and salary arrears had also been submitted to the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office, with assurances of an expedited payment plan.
On entry-level placement, NARD said the Ministry of Health would issue a directive to hospital chief executives reaffirming CONMESS 3 as the recognised entry point for resident doctors.
The association further disclosed that a multi-stakeholder committee involving the Ministry of Health, chief medical directors, the Nigerian Medical Association and NARD had been constituted to address locum practice and work-hour regulation, while steps were being taken towards full implementation of the specialist allowance.
Regarding house officers’ welfare, NARD said the Ministry of Labour had intervened, with the Ministry of Health expected to engage the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria over salary delays and arrears.
It also confirmed that a committee had been set up to address membership re-categorisation, while efforts were ongoing to resolve salary and allowance arrears in state and private health facilities.
NARD disclosed a circular on the professional allowance table had been released, with implementation expected to commence from the January salary, while outstanding arrears would be captured in the 2026 budget.
The association had earlier announced plans to resume a Total, Indefinite and Complete Strike, known as TICS 2.0, from January 12, citing the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreements reached with resident doctors, including provisions in a Memorandum of Understanding.
That decision followed an Emergency NEC meeting held on January 2.
However, the planned industrial action was halted after the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja issued an order restraining NARD and its members from proceeding with the strike.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim granted the order following a motion ex parte filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation, argued by the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maimuna Lami Shiru, who led the government’s legal team.
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