The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has commenced an indefinite nationwide strike, halting medical services across 91 federal teaching hospitals and medical centers from November 1, 2025.
The association said the industrial action followed the federal government’s failure to address long-standing issues affecting the welfare of its members, including unpaid salary arrears, excessive workloads, poor working conditions, and delays in issuing certificates of completion for training.
According to NARD’s leadership, the strike will continue until all 19 demands presented to the government are fully met.
In reaction to the development, the federal government announced the approval of ₦11.995 billion to clear outstanding payments owed to health workers across the country. The funds, government officials said, would be released within 72 hours.
Additionally, the government pledged to recruit 15,000 new healthcare professionals in 2025 to ease the burden on overworked medical staff and strengthen the nation’s healthcare system.
While both parties have resumed negotiations to address key concerns—such as the reinstatement of dismissed doctors and improved working conditions—NARD insists that the strike will not be called off until every item on its 19-point demand list is resolved.
The doctors’ strike has raised concerns about the impact on healthcare delivery, especially in teaching hospitals and tertiary health centers where resident doctors form the backbone of medical services.
Health experts have urged both sides to reach a swift resolution to prevent a total collapse of medical care in public hospitals.
NARD has repeatedly emphasized that the strike is not politically motivated but aimed at securing fair treatment and adequate welfare for doctors who, according to the association, continue to serve under difficult conditions despite contributing significantly to the country’s health sector.
The government, however, has appealed to the doctors to return to work while efforts are ongoing to fulfill their demands.
