The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its indefinite nationwide strike following an emergency virtual meeting of its National Executive Council (e-NEC) held on April 7, 2026, in what it described as a demonstration of goodwill after high-level government interventions.
The decision comes days after the association had announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike that was set to commence on April 7, over a protracted pay dispute.
Key interventions were led by Kashim Shettima, Nigeria’s vice president, alongside Muhammad Ali Pate, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, amongst other senior officials.
However, the suspension is conditional, as NARD issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government to deliver concrete, measurable, and verifiable progress on a backlog of welfare concerns.
At the centre of the dispute is the government’s plan to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table (PAT), as well as the continued delay in settling outstanding arrears.
According to a communiqué signed by NARD president, Mohammad Suleiman, and secretary-general, Shuaibu Ibrahim, resident doctors are owed 19 months of professional allowance arrears, in addition to unpaid promotion and salary-related entitlements.
The association is also pushing for the immediate release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and the settlement of outstanding payments due to affected institutions.
While NEC acknowledged recent engagements with government officials, including the Department of State Services (DSS), it struck a cautious note, warning that unresolved welfare issues continue to weigh on morale and pose risks to the stability of healthcare service delivery.
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NARD said it will reconvene at the end of the 14-day window to assess the government’s response. Failure to meet its demands, the association warned, will trigger an immediate resumption of the suspended strike without further notice.
In the interim, the association has urged its members nationwide to remain calm, unified, and professional as they await the government’s next steps.
