The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has suspended its indefinite nationwide strike, directing members to resume work while giving the federal government an ultimatum to meet its demands by April 21 or face fresh industrial action.
Speaking with TheCable on Tuesday, NARD president Mohammad Usman Suleiman said the decision followed a meeting of the association’s national executive council.
Suleiman stated that doctors have been directed to resume duties by 8am on Wednesday, adding that the association took the step after receiving assurances from the federal government regarding the reversal of a decision to halt the implementation of the professional allowance table starting from April 2026.
He explained that NARD has chosen to give the government a deadline of April 21, warning that failure to meet the demands would leave the association with no option but to resume the suspended strike.
The doctors had embarked on the nationwide industrial action over the federal government’s plan to discontinue the implementation of the revised professional allowance table.
NARD and the federal government had earlier reached an agreement on the revised allowance structure after a prolonged strike in 2025, which included improved remuneration for resident doctors such as call duty allowances, shift allowances, rural posting incentives and non clinical duty payments.
Although the implementation was initially scheduled for January 2026 and later shifted to February, NARD alleged that the government intends to discontinue the process by April, a move the association described as a breach of trust.
The association has demanded an immediate reversal of the decision, alongside payment of all outstanding entitlements.
NARD also called for the payment of promotion arrears and salary arrears for affected centres, as well as the swift conclusion of the process for disbursing the 2026 medical residency training fund.
The association maintained that while it is open to dialogue, it will not hesitate to take further action if its concerns are not addressed within the stipulated timeframe.
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