0
0
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
The decision followed a virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Saturday, April 4, where members resolved to take industrial action over unresolved issues with the Federal Government.
In a statement released after the meeting, the association’s National President, Shuaibu Ibrahim, described the situation as “unfortunate,” blaming the government for pushing doctors toward yet another strike.
According to him, the dispute centers on the implementation of a revised Professional Allowance Table, which was agreed upon after the prolonged 2025 strike. The agreement included improved welfare packages for resident doctors, such as call duty allowances, shift allowances, rural posting incentives, and payments for non-clinical duties.
Dr. Ibrahim explained that although the new structure was initially scheduled to take effect in January 2026, delays shifted its rollout to February. However, NARD now alleges that the government plans to halt the implementation by April—a move the association says violates prior agreements and erodes trust.
The association is therefore demanding an immediate reversal of the decision, along with the full payment of all outstanding entitlements owed to its members.
If the strike proceeds as planned, healthcare services across Nigeria are expected to face significant disruptions once again, raising concerns among patients and stakeholders in the health sector.
