A Nationwide Showdown Looms in Nigerian Healthcare.
As of next Tuesday at midnight, April 7, 2026, resident doctors across Nigeria will be walking off the job indefinitely. This bold move comes after a heated virtual meeting of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors' (NARD) Extraordinary National Executive Council on Saturday, April 4. The decision to strike was made with a heavy heart by NARD's National President, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, who squarely pointed a finger at the Federal Government as the mastermind behind the impending crisis.
According to Dr. Ibrahim, the problem lies in the government's handling of a revised Professional Allowance Table, which was negotiated following a prolonged strike in 2025. The agreement, aimed at improving the lives of resident doctors, included better pay for call duty, shift work, rural postings, and non-clinical duties. However, the implementation of this agreement was delayed from January to February, prompting NARD to express concerns that the government now plans to abandon the process by April. This move, in the eyes of NARD, not only erodes trust but also undermines prior agreements reached between the two parties.
To resolve the issue, NARD is calling on the government to immediately reverse its decision and settle all outstanding entitlements. Unfortunately, this strike action will undoubtedly disrupt healthcare services across Nigeria, leaving patients in a precarious situation.
0 Comments