The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike following fresh commitments from the Federal Government to address key welfare concerns affecting its members, Peak Newspaper reports
The decision was reached after an emergency meeting of the association’s National Executive Council, where members reviewed recent engagements with top government officials and relevant agencies.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the Federal Government gave assurances on the payment of outstanding salary arrears, promotion arrears, and other allowances owed to resident doctors across the country.
The government also committed to reinstating the reviewed Professional Allowance Table, with implementation expected to reflect in April salaries and subsequent payments.
In addition, authorities pledged to ensure the disbursement of funds for the 2026 Medical Residency Training Programme, a key demand by the doctors aimed at improving training and service delivery in the health sector.
The association noted that the suspension of the strike would allow time to assess the level of compliance with these commitments, with a review scheduled at its next general meeting.
Despite suspending the planned industrial action, NARD expressed concerns over delays in the payment of some categories of doctors, including house officers, and urged the government to act swiftly to prevent further disruptions.
The development comes amid a history of frequent industrial disputes between resident doctors and the government over welfare issues, with stakeholders expressing hope that the latest agreement will bring lasting stability to Nigeria’s healthcare system.
