The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike set to begin at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2025.
The move is expected to cause widespread disruption across public hospitals in the country. According to NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, the decision was made during an emergency virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) after reviewing the government’s unsatisfactory response to their long-standing demands.
“The NEC has resolved to commence a total and indefinite strike starting November 1, 2025. Our 19-point demands remain non-negotiable. The official notice will be released later today or tomorrow,” Suleiman announced.
The doctors said the strike became inevitable following repeated government failures to fulfill promises related to their welfare and training. Their complaints include unpaid arrears from the 25% and 35% CONMESS salary reviews promised for payment by August 2025, as well as outstanding promotion arrears and the 2024 accoutrement allowance.
NARD also condemned the dismissal of five resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, describing the action as unjust, especially amid the worsening brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector.
Other grievances include delays in rank upgrades after postgraduate exams, exclusion from specialist allowances, and the removal of house officers from the civil service scheme — issues they say have led to poor pay, low morale, and worsening working conditions.Dr. Suleiman further highlighted that doctors are overworked and under-supported, creating risks for both medical staff and patients.
With the strike approaching, Nigerians are bracing for severe disruptions in healthcare services, particularly in teaching and federal hospitals where resident doctors form the backbone of medical care.This marks yet another nationwide strike by NARD following similar industrial actions in 2023 and 2024 over unmet welfare demands.
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