Hospitals across Nigeria were thrown into crisis on Saturday as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) began an indefinite nationwide strike, following the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government.
The association said the action became necessary after what it described as the government’s persistent failure to honour agreements reached in previous negotiations.
NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, announced the commencement of the strike in a statement released through the association’s official social media page on Saturday morning.
According to him, the decision to embark on an indefinite strike was not taken lightly but was the last resort after repeated dialogue and unfulfilled promises from the authorities.
“We wish to address you at this critical time as we embark on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike — a decision that did not come lightly, nor was it ever our desire,” Dr. Suleiman stated.
“We are fully aware of the pains and inconveniences that accompany any disruption in healthcare services, and we deeply regret the situation. Our demands are not selfish or politically motivated. They are genuine, patriotic, and centred on the survival of Nigeria’s health system and the well-being of every citizen who depends on it.”
He said the strike would continue until the Federal Government fully implements the agreements previously signed with the association.
NARD listed its main demands to include payment of salary arrears, review of hazard allowances, improvement in working conditions, provision of medical infrastructure, and adequate staffing in hospitals nationwide.
The doctors are also demanding an end to excessive workloads, fair remuneration, and measures to stop the mass exodus of Nigerian medical professionals to foreign countries in search of better opportunities — a phenomenon widely known as “Japa syndrome.”
“A resident doctor who is overworked, underpaid, and mentally exhausted cannot offer optimal care to the patient who needs them most,” Suleiman added.
“A nation’s health system can only be as strong as the hands that sustain it. If doctors are broken, under-motivated, or forced to seek survival abroad, the patients suffer most.”
He appealed to Nigerians to support the association’s struggle, describing it as a fight for the improvement of healthcare services, not just for doctors’ welfare.
“This is not a fight between resident doctors and the government,” he said. “It is a struggle for a functional, just, and humane healthcare system where your doctor can attend to you with a clear mind and the tools needed to save lives.”
The NARD president called on civil society groups, labour unions, religious and traditional leaders, and all citizens to pressure the government to act swiftly to end the strike.
“We therefore call on all Nigerians — our patients, civil society groups, labour unions, religious and traditional leaders — to stand with us and appeal to the Federal Government to do the right thing,” he said.
“Together, we can rebuild a system that values both the carer and the cared-for. We appeal to you to weigh in and urge the government to address our demands urgently so that hospitals can reopen and Nigerians can access the care they deserve.”
Resident doctors form the backbone of Nigeria’s public healthcare system, accounting for more than 60% of the medical workforce in federal and state teaching hospitals. Their withdrawal of services often paralyzes operations in government-owned hospitals, leaving thousands of patients stranded.
Past strikes by NARD have frequently disrupted healthcare delivery, forcing many patients to seek treatment in private hospitals or postpone medical care.
This latest industrial action is expected to have far-reaching consequences, especially for emergency wards, maternity units, and teaching hospitals that rely heavily on resident doctors.
On Thursday, resident doctors under the Abuja branch of NARD also announced that they would join the indefinite strike, citing unmet demands specific to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
NARD had earlier issued a 30-day ultimatum in October 2025, warning that failure to meet its demands would lead to a nationwide strike. The deadline expired on October 31, prompting the current action.
As of Saturday evening, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government had not issued any official response to the strike declaration.
However, senior health officials privately expressed concern that the timing of the strike could worsen existing pressures on the nation’s healthcare system, already struggling with funding shortages and an ongoing exodus of medical professionals.
Efforts by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, to mediate between the doctors and government representatives reportedly broke down earlier in the week after both sides failed to reach an agreement on the key issues.
With hospitals now largely shut, Nigerians seeking care in government facilities are being turned away or advised to visit private clinics.
