The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is poised to resume its strike on January 12, signaling a deepening crisis in the nation’s healthcare sector. This critical decision follows an emergency national executive council (E-NEC) meeting on January 2, where the association expressed profound dissatisfaction with the government’s persistent failure to address the long-standing welfare and professional demands of its members. The planned industrial action, set to commence at 12:00 am on Monday, January 12, 2026, underscores the urgency and severity of the issues at hand.
In a detailed statement signed by NARD president, Muhammad Suleiman, the NEC outlined a strategic plan to amplify their message and draw significant public attention to their grievances. This includes directing all 91 NARD centers nationwide to conduct congress meetings, immediately followed by press conferences. The aim is to saturate public discourse over the next seven days, ensuring their demands are heard and understood by the wider populace.
Featured snippet paragraph: The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors plans to resume its strike on January 12, 2026, due to the government’s failure to fully address their welfare and professional demands, including payment of arrears and salary delays.
NARD has also announced a carefully phased protest plan designed to escalate pressure systematically. This strategy begins with center-based protests from January 12 to 16. Following this, regional protests will be coordinated by caucus leaders, culminating in a national protest spearheaded by the NARD national officers’ committee (NOC).
The association has clearly itemized nine minimum demands that require full implementation before any consideration of suspending their industrial actions. These non-negotiable points include the crucial reinstatement of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the prompt payment of owed promotion and salary arrears.
Furthermore, NARD insists on the complete implementation of the professional allowance table, with all associated arrears officially captured in the 2026 budget. This demand highlights the financial strain many resident doctors are currently experiencing.
Other significant demands involve the reintroduction of the specialist allowance, a critical component for attracting and retaining specialized medical talent. Additionally, NARD is pushing for the resolution of ongoing delays in house officers’ salaries, ensuring timely compensation for junior medical practitioners.
The association is also seeking official clarification from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare regarding issues of skipping and entry-level salary structures, which have caused considerable confusion and disparity.
Crucially, NARD calls for the immediate resumption and swift conclusion of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process, a fundamental mechanism for ensuring fair labor practices and dispute resolution.
The statement clearly articulates that the suspension of the TICS 2.0 agreement will only be contemplated after these nine minimum demands have been entirely met and demonstrably implemented.
NARD explained that the one-week window preceding the strike’s resumption was a deliberate strategic move. This period is intended to facilitate essential internal consultations, robust media engagement, and the necessary statutory notifications to security agencies, including the DSS, the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as hospital managements.
The NOC conveyed its appreciation for the guidance received from the NEC and assured all members of its unwavering commitment to these resolutions. Intensified engagements are scheduled to take place in the coming days to address these pressing concerns.
