Resident doctors demand total settlement to suspend strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced that its members will not resume duties until all their 19 demands are completely met by the Federal Government.

The NARD President, Muhammad Suleiman, made this known in Abuja on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Suleiman stated that none of the issues responsible for the association’s ongoing nationwide strike had received serious or adequate attention.

Suleiman was reacting to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, announcing plans to release N11.9 billion for arrears and other doctors’ welfare packages.

The ministry said while working with the Federal Ministry of Finance, N21.3 billion was transferred to the IPPIS account for health workers, while N11.9 billion and N10.6 billion were also allocated for payments.

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The ministry added that the government was addressing workforce shortages by employing more healthcare professionals and engaging with unions, including NARD, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

However, Suleiman said the association was unaware of any N11.9 billion release, adding that the entire health sector, not only resident doctors, was receiving 25/35 per cent arrears payments.

The NARD boss noted that based on the ministry’s progress report, “one or two out of 19 is a very poor performance score”.

He added that resident doctors would remain on strike until every demand was fulfilled.

The resident doctors embarked on an industrial action on November 1, following the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum issued to the federal government to meet their long-standing welfare demands.

The Star