Hospitals across Nigeria have been thrown into uncertainty as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) returned to an indefinite nationwide strike at midnight on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
The strike, expected to cripple services in public hospitals, follows what NARD described as the federal government’s persistent failure to meet its “minimum expectations” — a 19-point list of welfare and policy demands.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, said the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) reached the decision after a tense five-hour emergency meeting last week.
“There are allowances pending for over two years, some for 18 months, seven months, four months, and even as far back as 10 years. The basic salary of doctors in this country has not been reviewed for 16 years,” Dr. Suleiman said.
He noted that the federal government owes medical personnel about ₦38 billion in accumulated allowances and arrears, adding that many hospitals are struggling under poor funding and severe understaffing.
Doctors Demand Action on Welfare and Pay
NARD’s key demands include the immediate payment of outstanding 25–35% CONMESS arrears, the 2024 accoutrement allowance, and settlement of all pending entitlements owed to doctors and other health workers.
The association also wants five resident doctors dismissed from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, reinstated with full payment of their outstanding salaries and allowances.
It further urged the government to implement a humane working-hours policy in line with international best practices and grant hospitals greater autonomy to employ replacements under the one-for-one policy.
Beyond Salaries: Calls for Systemic Reform
Other demands include completion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Committee’s work on the long-overdue review of CONMESS and related allowances, enforcement of salary relativity between CONMESS and CONHESS, and full implementation of agreed pension benefits for doctors.
The association accused the government of failing to honour past promises, despite repeated meetings and communiqués.
“Our patience has limits,” said Dr. Suleiman. “We have chosen dialogue for too long, but the silence from government shows disregard for the sacrifices of Nigerian doctors who continue to serve under the most difficult conditions.”
As the strike enters its first day, emergency wards and clinics across major teaching hospitals in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, and Kano remain largely deserted.
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