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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Nigerian Government until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, to implement the terms of a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or face a total, comprehensive and indefinite nationwide strike across public health facilities.
The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué signed by NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Yahya, at the end of the association’s week-long National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Gombe State.
During the meeting, resident doctors expressed concern over what they described as the worsening state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, citing persistent attacks on doctors, poor remuneration, unpaid salary and promotion arrears, deteriorating working conditions, and the alleged intimidation of resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
The association also raised concerns over the country’s shrinking medical workforce, noting that the number of resident doctors has dropped from about 25,000 eleven years ago to just over 12,000 despite Nigeria’s population exceeding 230 million.
According to NARD, about 10,000 resident doctors are currently employed by national health institutions, while only about 2,000 work in state-owned and private health facilities nationwide.
The association outlined a 13-point demand, including the development of a national protocol to prevent assaults on healthcare workers and legislation criminalising attacks on medical personnel.
It also demanded an end to the crisis at LUTH, calling on the institution’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, to address the alleged intimidation of doctors and restore call-duty meals.
Other demands include the immediate payment of outstanding 25/35 per cent CONMESS upward review arrears, 19 months of Professional Allowance arrears, omitted 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) allowances, as well as outstanding salary and promotion arrears owed to doctors in federal health institutions.
NARD further called on the Nigerian Government to address excessive workload, long call-duty hours, the casualisation of doctors, welfare challenges affecting house officers, and the urgent rehabilitation and equitable distribution of healthcare infrastructure and modern medical equipment nationwide.
The association said it had repeatedly extended previous ultimatums in good faith but would no longer tolerate delays in addressing the welfare and safety of its members.
It urged the Nigerian Government to act before the August 10 deadline to avert industrial action and safeguard the country’s healthcare system.
