Olushola Omogbehin
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has commenced a nationwide strike that will again cause serious disruptions to healthcare services across state and federal owned hospitals.
The industrial action, which began on April 7, 2026, follows is a result of unresolved dispute between the association and the federal government over policy reversals and unpaid allowances.
Resident doctors have spent about 51 days on strike since the advent of this administration in May 2023 which has affected the health sector negatively.
The cause of the latest strike is the government’s alleged decision to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table—an agreement reached after the doctors’ 2025 strike.
NARD described the move as “unfortunate” and accused the government of forcing doctors into another avoidable industrial action.
While speaking of this development, NARD Secretary-General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, said the association could reconsider its stance if the government reverses its decision.
The demands of the association are the immediate restoration of the allowance structure, payment of salary and promotion arrears, settlement of 19 months’ outstanding allowances, and release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
“When many people say we should start the strike immediately, we said no, this is a public holiday, let us give time for them to reverse the instruction, and once they give that reverse instruction, whether they communicate to us or they do not communicate to us, we will know.”
According to him, the situation was not only particular to resident doctors alone, but also to other categories of healthcare workers in the sector.
An analysis of previous actions shows a recurring pattern of strikes. In 2023, resident doctors embarked on a 17-day strike over welfare concerns and rising living costs following fuel subsidy removal. In 2025, they held a five-day warning strike in September and a 29-day strike in November.
The issues include delayed payments, poor remuneration, inadequate training funding, and worsening working conditions. The mass migration of Nigerian doctors abroad has further strained the system, increasing workload and burnout among those who remain.
At the state level, branches such as Abia have confirmed full compliance with the national directive. The state NARD president, Godwin Alaede, said members are prepared for an indefinite strike.
“We are 100 per cent prepared to embark on the indefinite strike,” he said, while acknowledging the potential impact on patients.
The federal ministry of health had yet to issue an official response, leaving uncertainty over how quickly the crisis may be resolved.
