The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared an indefinite strike, halting medical activities in hospitals across the country.
NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, announced the decision on Saturday, following the expiration of the association’s 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
He said the strike became unavoidable after the government repeatedly failed to honour agreements reached with doctors despite several meetings, appeals, and warnings.
“We embark on this total and indefinite strike not out of desire but out of necessity,” Suleiman stated. “Our decision follows the Federal Government’s continued neglect of our legitimate demands and the worsening state of Nigeria’s health system.”
Suleiman explained that resident doctors had exhausted all peaceful options before resorting to industrial action. He stressed that their demands focused on saving the collapsing healthcare system rather than pursuing selfish interests.
He added that doctors across Nigeria are demoralised by unpaid arrears, poor working conditions, inadequate staffing, excessive workloads, and a lack of essential medical infrastructure, which he said have crippled effective healthcare delivery.
“Our demands are not selfish nor politically motivated,” he continued. “They are centred on ensuring doctors can provide safe, effective, and compassionate care in an environment that protects their mental and physical well-being.”
The NARD president warned that the mass exodus of doctors abroad would continue unless the government addressed their grievances immediately.
“A nation’s health system is only as strong as the doctors who sustain it. If those doctors are broken, demotivated, or forced to seek survival elsewhere, the patients suffer most,” he said.
Suleiman appealed to Nigerians, including civil society groups, labour unions, religious leaders, and traditional rulers, to support the doctors’ cause and press the government to act swiftly.
“This is not a fight against the government but a struggle for a functional and humane healthcare system. We appeal to Nigerians to stand with us so hospitals can reopen and patients can once again access the care they deserve,” he urged.
NARD had earlier issued a 30-day ultimatum that expired on November 1, 2025, after which it vowed to proceed with the indefinite strike.
As the strike takes effect, hospitals across the country are expected to experience severe disruptions in medical services, worsening the nation’s healthcare challenges.
