Resident doctors in Nigeria have suspended their strike after high-level talks with the federal government.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced the decision less than 24 hours after beginning the nationwide industrial action, which was triggered by unpaid allowances, salary arrears, and other welfare-related concerns.
Before the suspension, the doctors had embarked on the strike over what they described as persistent welfare challenges and unresolved policy issues affecting members across the country.
Key grievances included the government’s decision to halt the implementation of the reviewed Professional Allowance Table (PAT), delayed payment of promotion arrears, outstanding salary arrears, the yet-to-be-released 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), and about 19 months of unpaid professional allowance arrears.
The association said these issues were affecting morale and threatening the sustainability of healthcare delivery nationwide.
In a communiqué issued by its National Executive Council (NEC), NARD said it reviewed the outcome of engagements involving the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammed Dingyadi, the Coordinating Minister of Finance, Wale Edun is and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi, among other stakeholders.
The NEC expressed “cautious optimism” over the intervention, noting that the discussions reflected renewed attention to long-standing welfare concerns of resident doctors.
However, it stressed that several key issues remain unresolved, including arrears payments, the 2026 MRTF, and outstanding professional allowance arrears, calling for urgent government action.
Following deliberations, the NEC said it resolved to suspend the strike as a gesture of goodwill in recognition of ongoing negotiations and high-level intervention.
The association, however, issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government to take concrete, measurable, and verifiable steps to address all outstanding demands.
It warned that failure to meet these demands within the stipulated timeframe would lead to the resumption of the suspended strike without further notice.
NARD called on its members nationwide to remain calm, united, and committed to the collective pursuit of improved welfare conditions, while commending government officials for their intervention efforts.
It also expressed appreciation to its members for their resilience and solidarity during the short-lived industrial action.
