Resident doctors in Nigeria have officially downed tools in a nationwide strike, warning that hospitals across the country could grind to a halt as the government halts key allowances and reverses prior agreements.
“It is unfortunate that the government has forced us into another avoidable strike,” said Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary-General of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). “We resolved to embark on a total and comprehensive strike to protect our welfare and professional standards.”
The strike comes amid a backdrop of persistent tensions between doctors and the Federal Government, with resident doctors having spent 51 cumulative days on strike since President Bola Tinubu took office.
The immediate trigger, according to NARD, is the suspension of the Professional Allowance Table, which standardizes call duty, shift, and rural posting payments – critical incentives for medical staff struggling under severe staffing shortages.
“When doctors are well remunerated, they will work well,” said Dr. Godwin Alaede, NARD’s Abia State president. “We regret any inconvenience the strike may cause, but this is the only way to protect our rights and careers.”
The association is demanding:
- Immediate reinstatement of the Professional Allowance Table,
- Payment of promotion and salary arrears,
- Settlement of 19 months’ outstanding allowance arrears, and
- Release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.
Analysts warn the strike could further strain Nigeria’s healthcare system, already reeling from mass doctor migration, poor hospital infrastructure, and rising patient demand.
“We have been pushed to the edge,” said one NARD insider. “The government must understand that neglecting doctors now will have catastrophic consequences for the nation’s health system.”
The Ministry of Health has yet to issue a statement, leaving patients and hospital staff bracing for a potential healthcare crisis.a
