The National Association of Resident Doctors has said it will re-evaluate the circumstances surrounding the suspension of its planned strike action within the next two weeks.
The President-Elect of the association, Dr Emmanuel Idoko, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Monday.
Recall that NARD had embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike from November 1, 2025, over what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to implement a 19-point agreement reached with the association.
The industrial action lasted 29 days before it was suspended following negotiations with the government, during which some of the doctors’ demands were reportedly addressed.
However, after the suspension, the association announced fresh plans to resume another strike from January 12, citing alleged non-compliance by the Federal Government with the terms of the earlier agreement.
Speaking to NAN, Idoko, who is also a former chairman of NARD in Cross River State, explained that the decision to suspend the fresh strike threat was reached after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima. According to him, the Vice President appealed to the doctors to halt further strike actions and instead continue engagement with the Federal Government through dialogue.
“The strike is not called off yet; it was merely kept in abeyance. We shall reassess developments at our next meeting and decide on the next steps,” Idoko said.
He stressed that industrial action is not a preferred option for medical doctors, noting that such decisions are often triggered by difficult working conditions, inadequate medical infrastructure and policies that negatively affect the delivery of healthcare services.
“Doctors do not embark on strikes for pleasure; we do so in reaction to poor working conditions, inadequate facilities and unfavourable policies that affect healthcare delivery,” he added.
Idoko further pointed out that poor remuneration and weak health sector policies have continued to drive many Nigerian doctors to seek better opportunities outside the country, worsening the ongoing brain drain in the medical profession.
What you should know
The National Association of Resident Doctors represents medical doctors undergoing specialist training in Nigeria’s public hospitals.
Its strike actions in recent years have frequently disrupted healthcare services, often linked to disputes over salaries, allowances, welfare, and working conditions. The Federal Government and NARD have a history of agreements that sometimes face delays in implementation, fueling repeated tensions.
The latest development suggests the threat of another strike remains, depending on outcomes of further talks and the association’s upcoming review meeting.
