The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has officially commenced a five-day nationwide warning strike, beginning at 8:00 am on Friday, September 12 and scheduled to end on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
The strike action comes after the expiration of a 24-hour ultimatum issued to the Federal Government, following an earlier 10-day deadline that lapsed on September 10 without resolution.
Resident doctors, medical graduates undergoing specialist training, play a critical role in emergency wards and public hospitals across Nigeria.
According to NARD, the strike was agreed upon during an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held virtually on Wednesday, September 10 and concluded in the early hours of the following day.
“Arising from the NARD E-NEC meeting… the NEC members unanimously resolved to embark on a five-day warning strike,” read a statement from the association.
In a follow-up message confirming the commencement of the strike, NARD Secretary-General, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, stated:
“Good morning NEC members, thank you all for your continued cooperation and understanding. As clearly stated in our earlier communique, the strike is scheduled to commence at 8:00 am today (Friday). All centre leaderships are expected to guide their members accordingly. Further updates will be communicated in due course.”
In a communique earlier on September 1, 2025, NARD highlighted several unmet demands, including:
- Immediate payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF)
- Settlement of 5-month salary arrears linked to the 25–35% Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review
- Payment of 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears
- Prompt disbursement of specialist allowances
- Recognition of the West African Postgraduate Medical Certificates
- Issuance of membership certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria
- Implementation of the 2024 revised CONMESS
- Addressing unresolved welfare issues in Kaduna State
- Improved working conditions at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso
The communique was signed by NARD President, Dr. Osundara, General Secretary, Dr. Odunbaku, and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Omoha Amobi.
Responding to the strike notice, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isaq Salako, had expressed optimism that ongoing negotiations could prevent industrial action.
“The National Association of Resident Doctors has issued an ultimatum, but I believe with the level of conversation ongoing, we are making progress,” Salako said during a recent appearance on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television.
He acknowledged that the main issue was the outstanding residency training allowance, revealing that about 40% of the 2025 amount remained unpaid.
“It is my hope, and that is what we are working on, that the matter will be resolved before the ultimatum expires,” he added.
