The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its five-day nationwide warning strike.
The suspension followed a virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting on 13 September 2025.
In a statement on Saturday, NARD said the Federal Government pledged to address the issues listed in its strike communiqué, including payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to previously owed members.
The statement, signed by NARD President Osundara Tope, Secretary-General Odunbaku Oluwasola, and Publicity and Social Secretary Amobi Omoha, was made available to Channels Television.
“After thorough deliberation, and in view of the hardship Nigerians face in accessing healthcare under the present economic climate, the NEC resolved to suspend the strike from 8 a.m. on Sunday, 14 September 2025. This gives the government a two-week window to fully implement the demands outlined in our communiqué,” the association declared.
NARD also urged the Oyo State Government to meet the 15-day ultimatum issued by the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) over unresolved issues affecting doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
The doctors warned that failure to act would compel the NARD National Officers’ Committee (NOC) to direct members in Oyo State to embark on an indefinite solidarity strike.
The association further called on other state governments to urgently address the welfare concerns of resident doctors.
According to the resolution, members in state tertiary hospitals may continue their industrial action until their governments show genuine commitment to resolving their grievances. NARD reaffirmed its readiness to work with all levels of government to ensure accessible healthcare for Nigerians.
Resident doctors, medical graduates training as specialists, play a crucial role in healthcare delivery nationwide, particularly in emergency wards.
The strike began last Friday after the government failed to meet a 24-hour ultimatum, which followed an earlier 10-day deadline that expired on 10 September without resolution.
NARD’s demands include immediate payment of the 2025 MRTF, settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) review, and outstanding salary backlogs. They also seek payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, prompt specialist allowance disbursement, recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates, and action on welfare concerns in Kaduna and Oyo States.
Minister of State for Health, Isaq Salako, had earlier expressed optimism that ongoing talks with NARD would resolve the matter. He confirmed that the government still owed about 40 per cent of the 2025 residency training allowance but hoped the issue would be settled before the doctors’ ultimatum elapsed.